Scott A. Jens, OD, FAAO, CEO of RevolutionEHR, advises ODs to prepare for a potential HIPAA audit. Over the next several years, the Office of Civil Rights, which enforces HIPAA regulations, will conduct audits of medical practices, and optometric practices will be among them. Conduct an assessment now to ensure that you are compliant in securing all aspects of patient health records.
ACTION POINTS
SECURE RECORDS. Ensure that all patient records are properly managed and secured.
SECURE IMAGES. Retinal scans and other images produced in patient testing also must be secured.
SECURE SHARED DATA. Any health records downloaded from shared drives or networks must be encrypted and securely stored.
Scott A. Jens, OD, FAAO, is co-owner of Isthmus Eye Care, with offices in Middleton and Madison, Wis. In addition, Dr. Jens is the CEO of RevolutionEHR, a provider of online-based electronic health records. He can be reached at: sjens@revolutionehr.com.
