General

Following is one of the frequently asked questions over the phone: I have been given additional responsibility for acting as a HIPAA compliance officer for my company. I am not an IT professional, so which course will be right for me, and why? Congratulations on your new role as a HIPAA Compliance Officer! As you embark on this critical responsibility, you must ensure you're well-prepared with the proper knowledge and training to help your organization comply with HIPAA regulations. The role of a HIPAA Compliance Officer involves overseeing the protection of Protected Health Information (PHI), managing security policies, conducting staff training, [...]

Becoming a medical courier is a promising career path for individuals who want to play a crucial role in healthcare delivery. Medical couriers are responsible for the safe and timely transportation of medical supplies, specimens, medications, and even sensitive documents between healthcare facilities, laboratories, pharmacies, and other medical institutions. If you're considering this career, understanding the necessary training and certifications is essential. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the training requirements for becoming a medical courier. Basic Requirements for Medical Couriers Before diving into specific training programs, it’s important to understand the basic requirements for medical couriers. Typically, you’ll need to have: [...]

In today's landscape of increasing cyber threats and breaches involving electronic protected health information (ePHI), it's crucial for HIPAA-covered entities and their business associates (collectively known as "regulated entities") to prioritize not only the digital but also the physical security of their ePHI. While much attention is given to safeguarding against digital breaches caused by hacking, malware, or ransomware, the physical security of facilities housing ePHI can sometimes be overlooked. However, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI requires vigilant protection of the physical premises where this data is stored. Recent studies reveal a concerning gap in security priorities: only [...]

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of $115,200 on American Medical Response (AMR), a provider of emergency medical services nationwide. This penalty resulted from an investigation triggered by a complaint that AMR had failed to provide a patient with timely access to their medical records. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, individuals or their personal representatives are entitled to timely access to their health information within 30 days, with a potential extension of another 30 days, for [...]