HCPro.com: Health Information Compliance Insider

Every issue of Health Information Compliance Insider is packed with ready-to-use information worth thousands of dollars to you and your organization, like advance warning from Washington on when to expect changes to and guidance on HIPAA regulations and compliance advice from leading health care lawyers.

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September 2008 (Volume 5, Issue 9)	view entire issue

Minimize mistakes when responding to the media
It doesn't matter whether your facility is located in the largest U.S. metropolitan area or a small town; a media presence exists nationwide. And when newsworthy events occur or you admit newsworthy patients into your hospital, media members will surely buzz around your lobby and pepper your phone lines in search of information. Hospitals of all sizes must develop and enforce strict rules that guide staff members who receive media requests for information. And a well-written policy is only the beginning; staff members must be trained to ensure that they respond appropriately to persistent members of the media trying to scoop the competition.

Train billing and coding staff members on HIPAA
Editor's note: This is the fifth and final article in a series highlighting HIPAA training needs and strategies for specific departments in your facility. Coding and billing staff members don't have much face-to-face interaction with patients, but their constant access to medical records and PHI makes them susceptible to HIPAA violations without proper training. So resist any urge you may have to skimp on HIPAA training for these important HIM staff members.

What you may not know about HIPAA but probably should
Editor's note: This is HICI's second installment of little-known HIPAA facts from industry experts. Did you know . a patient's family and friends aren't always prohibited from participating in a patient's care? Many covered entities are reluctant or refuse to share PHI with a patient's friends and family members unless the patient signs a formal authorization. But there is room for negotiation because HIPAA allows some flexibility with respect to sharing information with friends and family, especially if the organization believes it will improve the quality of care, says Chris Apgar, CISSP, president of Apgar & Associates, LLC, in Portland, OR.

Other recently-published articles from Health Information Compliance Insider:

Certified career boosters: How credentials help you

Ensure safe transfer of PHI when selling a practice

Honeypots: A sweet tool you can use to monitor snooping staff members

Discipline with the intent to educate when responding to HIPAA violations to minimize future incidents

Disaster preparedness: Design, update, and practice your disaster recovery and business continuity plans

Keep cell phone use compliant

Attention to detail, information exchange process makes Oregon DHS a compliance success story

Offshoring a potentially risky cost saver for organizations

HIPAA compliance in the ER

What you may not know about HIPAA but probably should

Train billing and coding staff members on HIPAA

Minimize mistakes when responding to the media

Medical identity theft an increasing challenge

What you may not know about HIPAA: Interesting facts and little-known requirements

Train patient access staff members on HIPAA

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