When looking at different electronic medical record (EMR) software systems, be sure to ask whether or not the systems are HIPAA Compliant. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created to protect patient health information that is held by health insurance companies and health care facilities. There are serious legal repercussions for companies that violate these regulations, so make sure your facility’s EMR software system provides a HIPPA certificate of completion after training staff members.
All HIPAA compliant software systems should provide guidance in the form of staff training sessions. Online training modes can allow staff members to practice on their own time prior to going live. This will ensure that everyone who will be working with the system has a clear understanding of how the EMR software system works and it also gives everyone a chance to ask important questions prior to implementation. It is imperative that all employees follow the exact HIPAA rules and policies in order to receive a positive audit from the organization.
A reduction in the incidents of healthcare abuse by individuals who file fraudulent claims is one of the major advantages of implementing an HIPAA compliant EMR software system. To accomplish this, the software features built-in safeguards that reduce the risk of unauthorized access to each patient’s private health information and it also encrypts backup files and other data.
In addition, many HIPAA compliant EMR software systems can allow authorized physicians and other key staff members to access password protected patient files from any computer or device with Internet access. This is one of the many huge advantages to implementing a digital recordkeeping system in your facility, as it makes it easier to work from home on patient accounts during emergencies and also when pushing to meet insurance deadlines.
Before choosing a new EMR software system, try to consult with other medical facilities and ask them what software they use, what they like about it and what they would change if they had it to do over again. Also, don’t be afraid to ask distributors if they can let your facility test-drive the software system and schedule product demonstrations in your office so staff members can offer their input. Taking these basic steps will help to ensure that your facility ends up with a software system that truly meets every need and is HIPAA compliant.
