Description:

In today's digital era, personal information can be shared with a global audience at the click of a button. It's essential to understand how healthcare providers, organizations, and other individuals can navigate this digital landscape while upholding the principles of patient confidentiality and data protection, even on websites, social media, and patient reviews.

HIPAA of 1996 directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement regulations to protect the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information. HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) administers and enforces HIPAA Rules. Some violations of HIPAA Rules carry criminal penalties. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces HIPAA criminal violations.

HIPAA violations committed by Covered Entities on social media pages like Facebook, their organization's website, patient testimonials they post, and their responses to patient reviews – whether the review is positive or negative. These violations are dangerous and unnecessary because the HIPAA Rules provide simple, easy-to-apply safeguards to protect Covered Entities.

Protecting PHI privacy is essential as cyber-criminal attacks on the healthcare industry have increased dramatically. According to the HHS OIG, medical identity theft is the fastest-growing form in the United States. Criminals can steal a patient's identity with only two pieces of information – a patient's and provider's identities.

The webinar focuses on HIPAA rules and steps that enable providers to engage patients effectively on the Internet, avoid risks associated with apparent violations, and protect the organization by following simple administrative safeguards in the HIPAA privacy rule. Meanwhile, providers can continue effective internet-based marketing and comply with HIPAA.

Areas Covered:

• HIPAA Rules covering websites and social media.
  •           Websites and Social Media pages subject to HIPAA Rules  
  •           Simple Web Site & Social Media HIPAA Safeguards
• HIPAA Rules Covering Patient Reviews.
  •           Simple Patient Review HIPAA Safeguards
• Tips for Enterprise-wide Compliance
• HHS/OCR Enforcement
• Web Sites and social media to attract new patients, engage with existing patients, and comply with HIPAA.

Why Should You Attend:

With over a billion people on social networks, it is not surprising that HIPAA violations are rising and are raising significant concerns among medical practices. Sharing too much information on social media platforms can devastate healthcare organizations and employees if patient-specific information is shared. HIPAA Rules for Websites, Social Media, and Patient Reviews had pros and cons.

Who Should Attend: 

• Health Care Providers' HIPAA compliance officials
• Healthcare care Provider staff
• In-house and outside health law counsel
• Health Care Advertising, Marketing, and Social Media Consultants
• C-suite and board of director members

Presenter Information:

Name: Paul R. Hales

Paul R. Hales received his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University Law School and is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States. He is an expert on HIPAA Privacy, Security, Breach notification and Enforcement Rules with a national HIPAA consulting practice based in St. Louis. Paul is the author of all content in The HIPAA E-Tool, an Internet-based, Software as a Service product for health care providers and business associates.