If you work in the healthcare industry, you know keeping pace with ever-evolving compliance policies can be overwhelming, to say the least. Without a dedicated IT professional, hipaa managed services can get complicated.
The best way to stay ahead of the game concerning HIPAA regulations is to partner with a managed IT services provider. The right IT partner can bring an in-depth understanding of the latest technologies and security practices. That expertise can reduce your chances of noncompliance.
Here are five ways that working with outsourced IT, including hipaa managed services, can help you ensure the compliances for your healthcare practice.
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Stay Current With Telehealth Concerns
The prevalence of telehealth went from a COVID-19 response to something that looks far more permanent.
Telehealth is now an important new pillar of the modern healthcare industry, and for good reasons. Patients can conveniently and easily meet with providers virtually to do what they once had to visit an office for:
- Undergo evaluations
- Get diagnoses
- Order medications
- Receive treatment for chronic conditions
What this also means is that this type of technology comes with unique privacy and security concerns. And with new concerns come the potential for HIPAA policy violations.
Managed IT services can secure video channels for confidentiality, ensure you properly archive video data, set up encryption for file transfers and assist with cloud data storage. A well-managed telemedicine system can guarantee your patients’ information is safe.
Support Remote and Hybrid Workers
Along with telemedicine, the number of healthcare workers operating remotely or in a hybrid workplace has also increased. In fact, at 17%, the healthcare industry has the highest number of remote workers in the country.
Understandably, the list of requirements to keep workers outside the office HIPAA-compliant is extensive. HIPAA regulations expect providers to plan for and provide assets like these:
- Encrypted wireless routers
- Virtual private networks for remote network access
- HIPAA-compliant communication software
- Limited user access
- Records of all remote access activity
Of course, that’s by no means a comprehensive list.
Many providers might find themselves overwhelmed with keeping their remote and hybrid workers compliant with current policies. With the assistance of managed IT specialists with healthcare experience, providers can rest easy.
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Keep Pace With Evolving Compliance Requirements
Because the healthcare landscape is constantly changing, keeping up with the latest policy developments can be daunting.
A managed IT team can stay on top of the latest changes as well as any HIPAA requirement updates. As a result, your practice or organization can focus on providing quality care without distraction.
Additionally, a healthcare-focused managed IT service can offer guidance on what certain changes mean for your practice — and what you can do to stay compliant.
Help With Employee Training
Besides partnering with an expert it provider for your hipaa managed services and concerns this next point is particularly important. One of the most effective ways to ensure your organization stays compliant under current HIPAA policies is to educate staff on regulations and their importance.
Managed IT services can help you plan for and facilitate cybersecurity training. With training, you can make your employees your biggest security asset and remain compliant.
When your remote and in-office staff knows how to protect patient data, you reduce the risk of human error and ensure everyone is on the same page.
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Conduct Compliance and Security Assessments
A crucial part of compliance is conducting regular security assessments. A managed IT team can run these compliance and security assessments to ensure your sensitive data is safe. This includes patient data.
These assessments can also identify any risks or vulnerable areas within your practice that you should focus on. Furthermore, working with managed IT services can make creating a plan for moving forward easy per that judgment.
Partner With Managed Healthcare IT Experts: CMIT Solutions of Bothell
At CMIT Solutions of Bothell, we work with a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, to ensure your business and data are secure. Our managed IT and cybersecurity services help your healthcare practice grow safely and securely — while keeping hipaa managed services up to date and compliant with its policies.
Featured image via Pexels
