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There are very big concerns about IT Security in this age of mobile healthcare technology.  In order to abide by federal regulations, healthcare personnel and facilities must safeguard patients' records and privacy.  This is especially important in view of the proliferation of mobile communication and IT devices.

Keeping up with HIPAA and healthcare IT regulations can be a full-time job, if it is done in-house.  However, most companies can outsource the liabilities associated with non-compliance by hiring Information Technology (IT) experts who can make sure the small hospital or physician’s office is in compliance, even when they aren’t aware of all the details. This can reduce the need to hire in-house technology experts who spend a lot of their time just keeping informed on HIPAA and healthcare IT issues.  It also provides a much leaner IT workforce, but one that is uniquely qualified to provide the four basic offerings necessary to be in compliance: protecting data, limiting and managing access to sensitive medical information, implementing disaster recovery and emergency protocols when necessary, and monitoring network security.

There's a big difference between using a shared cloud environment and using a private cloud for your healthcare applications and data.  If you've been under the impression that the cloud is a security risk, you can be right if you're referring to a shared cloud computing network.  Here are the major risks of using a shared cloud computing environment. 

A lot has been said about the Cloud and its' applications in business.  It is the first real revolution in data storage since the invention of the removable disk.  The bottom line of this innovation is that business' no longer have to rely on banks of servers or expensive measures to store proprietary information, patient records, or any other conceivable data.

Cloud computing makes both software upgrades and movement virtually seamless allowing IT teams the freedom to usher in new technology as soon as it is available.  These are just some of the vast advantages of using Cloud technology.  Below are the top four benefits that Cloud computing brings to the healthcare industry. 

HIPAA was created primarily to protect the confidentiality and security of healthcare information.  As a physician’s practice, you are responsible for ensuring you use HIPAA compliant IT service vendors, particular those who store and transmit your data.

Outsourcing healthcare IT services has been growing at a fast pace over the past few years. Small hospitals and large physician practices may need to outsource the IT functions, in which case it would be a good idea to find experts who can offer excellent quality services.  There are many experts who can offer you those quality services.  You just need to make sure that you are working with the most experienced and skilled professionals.

An SSAE 16 (Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements, no. 16) audit is a standard created by the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  This standard deals with engagements taken on by a service auditor for reporting on controls at organizations that supply services to users.  These controls may be relevant to a user's internal control over financial reporting (ICFR).

Healthcare Information Technology is a Very Dynamic Entity

While only an intriguing concept just a decade ago, cloud computing is now growing at a rate exceeding any early predictions.  In fact, according to a study quoted in a recent article in Forbes, the worldwide growth in cloud computing will reach a size of $19.5 billion by 2016.