2004 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acusis, a provider of outsourced medical transcription services, has announced that their associates completed a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) education and training course.
Over 540 employees globally have participated in the push to be ready to meet the upcoming HIPAA regulations.
The completion comes months before the compliance deadline for HIPAA's Security Rule in April 2005, indicating Acusis is doing their part to ensure meeting the transition deadline is as smooth as possible for healthcare organizations.
In order to demonstrate to hospitals, clinics, and physician practices Acusis is committed to safeguarding the confidentiality and security of protected electronic health information, associates are required to complete the HIPAA training course annually.
'Acusis has built our model around HIPAA-protected health information guidelines. By making ourselves prepared for the 2005 deadline in advanced, we can assure we are doing the best we can to encourage a seamless transition in April for our customers,' said David Iwinski, Jr., Acusis president and CEO.
The course educates associates on HIPAA awareness, privacy and security and follows with a formal assessment of employees' understanding of the rules. Health Care Compliance Strategies (HCCS) presented Acusis with a Certificate of Completion.
In addition to the required formal annual HIPAA training, Acusis has their worldwide associates sign a Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Policy. Last June, Siemens Medical Solutions completed an independent assessment its HIPAA compliance initiative.
Acusis has technology systems in place for data encryption, virtual private network safeguards, firewall multiple layers, intrusion detection systems and disaster recovery redundancies.
This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.
