FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 3, 2010
ScanSTAT Technologies’ Janine Akers to Present at e-MDs User Conference 2010
HITECH Act Changes Remains a Key Topic for Medical Practices
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – June 3, 2010 – e-MDs, a leading provider of electronic health records (EHR) and practice management (PM) solutions, has selected Janine Akers of ScanSTAT Technologies to present at their 6th annual User Conference and Symposium (UCS10) to be held on July 22-24 at the AT&T Center in Austin, Texas. In a presentation entitled “The Stakes Are Getting Higher for HIPAA Compliance,’ Akers will speak on the changes introduced by the HITECH Act and how practices are positively affected by the ability to transfer the liability and reporting obligations in the HIPAA Privacy and Security Provisions to a Business Associate.
“It’s amazing how many practices are still learning about these HITECH Act changes – and how much they stand to benefit from making a few simple changes in their operations,” said Akers. “We’re honored to be selected by e-MDs as a presenter and impressed that e-MDs continually strives to educate their audience on ways to optimize their practices for the ultimate benefit of their patients.”
Akers will be presenting on the HITECH Act changes to HIPAA Subtitle D—13400’s Section which expands the definition of a Business Associate and now applies the security and privacy provisions directly to the Business Associate rather than the Covered Entity (the practice), including civil and criminal penalties. Before the HITECH changes, practices had carried the burden of tracking and reporting any and all HIPAA breaches, and Akers explains how practices can transfer the liability of risk outside their operation to a Business Associate.
Specifically, Akers explains the provisions in detail including what constitutes secure protected health information (PHI), the definition of a breach, the notification requirements, and the exclusions that apply to remove the need for notification. Akers also covers what practices should consider in terms of process changes, documentation, and available services to take full advantage of the changes that the HITECH Act introduces.
If understood and interpreted fully, the HITECH Act imposes a tremendous burden on medical practices for tracking and reporting possible breaches of protected health information (PHI). However, through the changes, Covered Entities can also transfer the liability in the medical records requests and fulfillment processes to a Business Associate such as ScanSTAT Technologies. Release of Information requests are typically an operational and financial drain on medical practices, and to address that challenge, ScanSTAT provides a medical record fulfillment service that securely handles a practice’s requests directly from the practice’s EMR/EHR platform such as e-MDs. In addition to removing the burden of records fulfillment and possible breach and notification requirements at a practice, ScanSTAT’s can also eliminate an area of a practice that is typically a cost center, because the ScanSTAT ROI fulfillment services carry little to no cost to the provider.
About ScanSTAT Technologies
Founded in 2002, ScanSTAT Technologies, LLC provides electronic release of information services and fulfillment of medical records requests using nearly all the leading EMR/EHR platforms available today including e-MDs, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, GE Centricity, Practice Partner, Allscripts, Pulse and more. ScanSTAT Technologies also specializes in medical records scanning, including scanning for EMR conversion. For more information on ScanSTAT Technologies, please visit www.datafiletechnologies.com or call 816-437-9134.
About e-MDs
e-MDs is a leading developer of health care software solutions headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company, founded in 1996 by a primary care physician, remains physician and clinical informaticist managed and actively participates in national health information technology and interoperability efforts. e-MDs Solution Series™, with more than 28,000 users nationwide, is the standard for affordable and integrated EHR and PRACTICE MANAGEMENT software solutions, including clinical, financial and document management modules designed to automate medical practice processes and chart management. e-MDs Solution Series version 6.3 is a CCHIT Certified® 2008 Ambulatory EHR additionally certified for Cardiovascular Medicine and Child Health. The e-MDs Solution Series’ comprehensive suite of products facilitates improvements in clinical care, a reduction in medical errors, and optimization of business practices. As testimony to our focus on ease of use and functionality, e-MDs has ranked at the top of all independent, unbiased, physician surveys thus far. For more information, please visit www.e-mds.com.
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Access Marketing Company
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