Sharing private health information over the internet can be a risky business. Unfortunately, as people become accustomed to doing most if not all of their personal business online, the demand for accessing this information online will grow to the point that health care providers will have no choice but to either provide access to this private health information or lose their customers.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted to assure the confidentiality of patient information. This requires that health care providers employ stringent measures to assure that information shared on the internet is protected from unauthorized access.
The HIPAA Act requires health-providing entities to:
? Assign responsibility for security to a person or organization.
? Assess security risks and determine the major threats to the security and privacy of protected health information.
? Establish a program to address physical security, personnel security, technical security controls, and security incident response and disaster recovery.
? Certify the effectiveness of security controls.
? Develop policies, procedures and guidelines for use of personal computing devices (workstations, laptops, hand-held devices), and for ensuring mechanisms are in place that allow, restrict and terminate access (access control lists, user accounts, etc.) appropriate to an individual's status, change of status or termination.
? Implement access controls that may include encryption, context-based access, role-based access, or user-based access; audit control mechanisms, data authentication, and entity authentication
This law has serious implications for organizations that allow unauthorized access resulting in a breach in confidentiality.
Security is the key
Since the HIPAA law provides for both civil and criminal penalties for violations, data and access security is of the utmost importance. To assure HIPPA compliance, online document management on company intranets and extranets must include a number of security features:
? Secure web server ? a server running secure socket layers is the minimum needed.
? Encrypted database ? all data must be encrypted. Software is available that will encrypted all data sent between two computer over the internet.
? Secure access control -- in addition to a traditional user id and password, it may be a good idea to use a strong password or smart card as additional security.
? Session timeout ? this assures that confidential data is not left on an unattended screen.
? Server monitoring ? the secure web server needs to be strictly monitored to detect break-in attempts.
? Regular security audits ? regular audits are required to make sure all security precautions are working properly.
? Personnel ? system maintenance should be in the hands of qualified personnel familiar with HIPPA requirements
And Group Collaboration Software
A Hang-Out In the WWW
Yes, you and your friends can hang out on the World Wide Web. No more AWOLs from work and incurring the wrath of the big boss. At home, you can chat with a group of friends and swap pictures, videos, and even maps to get to cool places for that grand getaways. That is, if you have group collaboration software to make your outings in the web fun.
All you have to do is use the email feature and organize your online group together. Schedule your meetings and get ready with the files or pictures you want to share. This is a great way to keep in touch with friends from high school and college without spending money on airfare, bus tickets, and hotel accommodations. A one-time investment on group collaboration software, which you can split equally with the group, will make it even more cost-effective.
A nostalgic trip back to those memorable schooldays can always spice up your day after a long grind at work. You can widen your network and find out where the class beauty and the football hunks are hiding. The more you invite, the merrier. It won't cost you another penny to chat up long lost friends and they'll love your initiative to create a virtual coffee shop.
All-Purpose Conferencing
With group collaboration software, you can organize webinars for your friends, and even use the technology for your sales pitch. You can help those waiting for a break by using the platform to sell their products to old classmates who may happen to be in league with the big time.
Here's what you can do with your group collaboration software:
1. Show PowerPoint presentations of club project and activities.
2. Share files on project statistics.
3. Review files together and make those decisions.
4. Enjoy audio and video features.
5. You can share marketing tips and strategies in real time.
For the big meetings, all you have to do is get a webinar hosting service and additional features to cater to a bigger crowd. Just an advice - let somebody outside the group do the facilitation and moderation of the activity. You and the gang shouldn't be encumbered with more work. You've got to enjoy yourselves and at the same time scout for business opportunities without having to worry about small details.
Take the Lead Now
Start collecting the email addresses of your classmates and ask people to contribute to your list of emails. When you have reached a critical mass base, send them emails detailing your plans. Try out a consensus using the group collaboration software - it'll make the work faster and easier to do than counting hands.
Get more ideas from the group, then settle on the group collaboration software that fit your needs anytime and whatever group size. The returns will be more than you realize. Memories of the high school prom, those long exams, and the bloom of young love are memories to be lovingly cherished. So take those steps now.
Both Laura Schweiker & Nahshon Mediros are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Laura Schweiker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Software, Computers and The Internet and Advertising Guide. Laura Schweiker writes extensively on the use of technology by businesspeople and is an evangelist for online collaboration and. Laura Schweiker's top article generates over 12100 views. Bookmark Laura Schweiker to your Favourites.
