LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electronic communication is growing within the medical field but can be difficult to reconcile with HIPAA guidelines. Dr. Michael Kaplan has created a system to teach his team how to uphold confidentiality while efficiently accessing patient data.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, was adopted in 1996 in an effort to protect patient privacy and ensure that confidential records remain just that. Doctor/patient confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of professional medical practice, and as such the protection of patient files is a key aspect of office management in medical practices across the country. Dr. Michael Kaplan teaches his staff to maintain proper HIPAA compliance at all times. As technology has grown in importance within the medical field, this task has become a bit more complex.
HIPAA was first passed before smart phones, hand-held computers, and tablets hit the market. Because of this, digital file management was not written into the Act. As technology has progressed, however, healthcare and other sensitive records have been converted from standard paper files to digital ones. As these files became more easily accessed, better protection measures became necessary. HIPAA was updated in 2009 with an amendment, called the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, to allow for the use of electronic files within the healthcare industry.
Dr. Michael Kaplan has welcomed the HITECH Act because, as its name implies, it is a financially advantageous addition to HIPAA policy. Digital file management is cheaper than traditional techniques and it utilizes less space. Furthermore, it allows doctors to quickly access patient files from mobile technology in an effort to streamline productivity and encourage more efficient practices.
Although the utilization of smart phones and tablets can improve the effectiveness of the medical industry, the privacy of the information sent to and from these mobile devices can be more easily compromised. Due to this, Dr. Michael Kaplan has trained his staff to uphold the HITECH Act's guidelines through a series of best practices. For example, texting about patients is limited and mobile devices are under password protection.
Dr. Michael Kaplan believes that the confidentiality of a patient's records is of utmost importance. By teaching his staff to uphold HITECH and HIPAA guidelines, he is contributing to a more secure medical industry. Furthermore, he and his staff members are able to ensure their patients that sensitive information will be kept confidential.
For more information about Dr. Michael Kaplan and his practice, visit http://www.michaelskaplanmd.com.
ABOUT:
Dr. Michael Kaplan is a urologist located in Las Vegas, Nevada. A professional who specializes in a variety of services to patients, including those pertaining to prostate health, erectile dysfunction, vasectomies, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and Peyronie's Disease.