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As the healthcare industry continues to undergo changes, more tools are being used to create operating efficiencies and coordinate better care for patients. For physicians, hospitals, administrators and healthcare IT administrators, it is essential that the privacy and safety of electronic health records (EHR) remain a high priority. 

One of the most influential pieces of legislation the healthcare industry has to follow is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  Healthcare IT employees often have their work cut out for them when trying to comply with this complex law.  To follow HIPAA regulations - including rules for privacy and security - healthcare organizations need to implement proper security policies and employ the right technology to ensure the security of the patient's protected health information (PHI) in the electronic health record (EHR).  By following HIPAA healthcare IT standards, healthcare organizations can mitigate the risk of security breaches and maintain the reputation of their practices.

With the recent "Heartbleed" scare, IT security is once again a hot topic. As well it should be, for this is nothing new. Data breaches in the healthcare industry have facilitated the need for a renewal of the conversation time and time again. If you don't believe us, read on, as we take a look at some of the worst healthcare security breaches to date.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are transforming the American healthcare system into a more robust, high-quality, patient-centric, and more affordable system.  The US government has undertaken various initiatives helping physicians and other healthcare providers utilize lifesaving technology with really promising results.  As of 2013, 72 percent of office-based physicians are employing some type of EHR software to improve outcomes.

It is important for companies to cut business cost, but the worst advice we’ve ever heard about reducing operating costs is refusing to invest in the latest advances in IT software and service support.  The right IT solution helps you manage every aspect of your operation.

Small and medium-sized healthcare facilities today often look to reduce operating costs wherever possible.  Many organizations may feel that they can reduce costs by managing their IT on-site.  In order to determine whether or not this would be a good decision for your organization, it is important to weigh the costs of paying an outside IT provider with the costs of what would happen to your organization if your network suffered a crash.  There are a few factors to consider when trying to make this determination.

To make things easier for you, have your computer work for you.  Start using a Password Manager to create and keep your passwords. 

Things change frequently in the world of healthcare, and it looks like the new 2015 EHR Meaningful Use guidelines are no exception to this axiom.  On February 21, The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released details of the proposed voluntary 2015 version of EHR regulations.  This new approach represents a change to the way that the ONC will regulate the meaningful use of electronic health records.

As countless computer owners know, both on a professional level and on a personal level, computer crashes can be disastrous.  One devastating crash can swiftly and completely ruin a college essay or a business proposal without recourse or any ability to resuscitate the project or system's programs.  One minute you are developing a well-researched, intensive, complex document or program; the next minute you are staring at a blank screen with nothing but death and destruction as its essence.  The scenario is not an unknown one but, in fact, is one that physicians, hospitals and other medical facilities find themselves facing all too frequently.

The Internet and the digital revolution have forever changed many aspects of modern living for the better.  The medical field has not gone unaffected by this change, as demand for easier access by patients has forced healthcare facilities to adjust.  The government has also played a role in the modernization of the healthcare profession. New government regulations have made the IT aspect of healthcare nearly as vital as the act of caring for patients.