Secure Your Practice With the New “HIPAA Security Rule Online Compliance Workbook”
by APA Practice Organization Staff
April 12, 2005 -- A new resource is available to help practitioners comply with the Security Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the federal law that protects the privacy and security of patient records. The “HIPAA Security Rule Online Compliance Workbook” is a comprehensive online resource from the APA Practice Organization designed to assist practitioners in meeting the requirements of the Security Rule. The Security Rule compliance deadline is April 20, 2005.
The Security Rule is a complex rule designed to safeguard personal health information contained in electronic media, such as patient notes, e-mail with or about patients, and financial records with identifying patient information. The “HIPAA Security Rule Online Compliance Workbook” breaks the rule into a step-by-step compliance process, helping practitioners to identify potential risks to the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of electronic patient information in their practice, and to determine the steps they need to take to minimize those risks and comply with the Security Rule.
The Workbook is designed to address the specific needs of small practices. While most Security Rule compliance tools are geared toward large medical practices and organizations, the Workbook is geared toward solo and small-group practitioners, who are required to implement the Security Rule on a different scale than larger practices.
John H. Anderson, Jr, EdD, professional affairs officer of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, says the Workbook is a helpful tool for understanding and complying with the complex and multifaceted Security Rule. “This product is a real benefit because it takes something that could seem opaque and makes it comprehensible," says Anderson. “I was very impressed with the content and organization, including the step-by-step method for conducting a risk analysis and developing policies and procedures.”
Sally Cameron, executive director of the North Caroline Psychological Association, agrees that the Workbook streamlines the compliance process. “The content is excellent,” says Cameron. “It makes compliance as easy as it could be given the complexity of the subject.”
Workbook Highlights
The “HIPAA Security Rule Online Compliance Workbook” features such elements as:
- A step-by-step risk analysis for all aspects of a practice - Practitioners respond to a series of questions to assess their practice’s potential security risks and vulnerabilities related to electronic patient health information.
- Compliance options for each Security Rule requirement - Practitioners identify security measures they will take to comply with the Security Rule. Each compliance option has corresponding policies and procedures that practitioners can either use as is, or edit and customize to better fit their practice.
- Documentation, including policies and procedures, that practitioners can customize to fit their practice. When the documents are complete, practitioners can print a final policies and procedures document for their own reference, for distribution to their workforce and/or to show regulators in the event of an audit.
- Links to compliance resources, including technical resources, that provide guidance for securing computers and other devices.
CE Credits Available
The time required to complete the Workbook will vary, depending on the practitioner’s work style, the complexity of their practice, and their familiarity with HIPAA, but on average it can be anticipated that it will take four hours to complete. Users do not need to complete the Workbook in one sitting. They can save their work and return to it at any time by logging into their Workbook on to any computer that is connected to the Internet.
“It’s easy to go back and forth and correct or change previously completed items,” says Daniel J. Abrahamson, PhD, the director of professional affairs for the Connecticut Psychological Association. “It is user-friendly.”
The Workbook comes with an optional online exam that if successfully completed provides four hours of continuing education (CE) credits from the APA Practice Organization, an APA-approved CE sponsor.
Ordering Information
Purchase the HIPAA Security Rule Online Compliance Workbook now. APA members who pay the Practice Assessment may purchase the Workbook for a discounted price of $99. The cost for other APA members is $139. The cost for practitioners who do not belong to APA is $159.
