Presenters: John Parmigiani and Robert W. Markette
Date Recorded: 9/24/2008
Length: 60 minutes

Warning: A home health agency’s loss of tapes and nurses’ laptops containing patient data has led to the first case since HIPAA privacy rules became final more than five years ago where the government required a large cash payment to settle “potential HIPAA violations.”

Until now, the HHS Office of Civil Rights has limited itself to advising providers – including more than 30 HHAs – how to correct privacy mistakes. But the $100,000 bill paid by Seattle-based Providence Health & Services on behalf of its home health unit suggests providers can expect a tougher line on enforcement in the future. And because home health agencies and hospices are sending more clinicians equipped with theft-vulnerable laptops into their communities than ever, they could be the providers most affected by stricter privacy enforcement.

But regardless of whether the laptop is in a visiting nurse’s car or a doctor’s office, the need to safeguard patient information contained in laptops and hand-held devices is something no provider can ignore these days, say two experts who will explain how to meet the increased challenge – John Parmigiani, who has over 36 years’ experience in information systems management and now specializes in helping healthcare organizations become compliant with HIPAA and other healthcare regulations; and attorney Robert W. Markette, who counsels a variety of health care clients on privacy and security compliance and specializes in HIPAA issues.

Don’t miss your chance to hear Parmigiani and Markette describe the measures you can take to protect patient information and the risks you run if you don’t. Hear them discuss:

• Why state privacy laws may have a greater impact on providers with missing laptops than federal law
• Simple techniques for reducing the risk of lost information that include reducing the amount of information stored in laptops or hand-held devices
• What to do when theft or loss happens