Tips to protect patient data from cyber crimes

Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics are continuously exposed to cyber-crimes and threats due to ransomware attacks. This puts patient data at stake however organizations can reduce the chances of cyber-attacks and crimes by incorporating the following strategies.

1. Staff needs to be trained on the latest cybersecurity protocols – Your healthcare organization can offer training to get everyone on the same page to keep up with the latest cybersecurity protocols. Staff members who follow appropriate data protocols need to be appreciated, you need to teach employees about the importance of cybersecurity which can be done through free resources.
2. Employees should be encouraged to bring their own devices – Medical organizations can establish a strict policy where staff members need to bring their own devices to work on. This policy would ensure network security within the organization. The hospital IT staff needs to provide a list of apps that protect devices from malware attacks and also regularly update these apps.
3. Provide controlled access to patient records and data – It is the healthcare organization’s responsibility to ensure round-the-clock safety of patient data and if they fail the consequences can be harsh such as hackers can commit identity theft and take funds from bank accounts. It is advised that only authorized access is provided to certain patient data by the security team at your office. Systems can also be audited and checked regularly to monitor and verify the user and what they accessed.
4. Take updates seriously – You need to ensure that devices are updated regularly as they include security and safety fixes. The hospital IT department has to establish a plan to monitor and regularly update any devices that are being used at the facility. This will keep technology breaches at bay and keep security tight.
5. Create regular backups – Your organization must have a contingency plan for unexpected events. Files need to be backed up regularly so they can be retrieved and restored without much effort. The back-up data and information can then be stored away from the main system.

Key Takeaway

The above tips can maintain the privacy of patient data and prevent the medical organizations from going in a loss and being in a tight spot. Furthermore, security is being enhanced with Blockchain technology which has revolutionized healthcare cybersecurity by distributing information on a public ledger. Blockchain is considered secure and a better means of protecting private information. Also one of the best ways to protect data is using an EHR software solution that is ONC certified.

In 2019, more than 1.75 million cancer cases were encountered in the US. Fortunately, because of earlier diagnosis techniques, improved procedures, and healthy lifestyle choices, a massive drop was observed in the demise rates.

Our conversations with medical officers have highlighted that the need to switch is created because most of them are looking for a more robust Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Practice Management, Medical Billing and Clinical Decision Support Software solutions that can help them in improving clinical and financial workflow.

Getting an over-budgeted option or opting for a Free or Open Source EMR Software is never advisable. Here are the top 5 ways your Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software can help improve Cancer Management for your healthcare practice. This list can also work as a checklist for things to look for in an Oncology EMR Software.

Coordination between Primary and Secondary Healthcare Settings

Oncology  EMR/EHR or Practice Management (PM) Solution ensures continuity in evolution per case basis between the care environments and allows the physicians and the staff to access all the patient data throughout the transition. This eliminates the need to carry paperwork and relieve the caretakers of the patients from a lot of stress.

Efficient Management of Complex Regimens

Complex healthcare procedures can be simplified through personalized workflow and automated tasks (e.g. flow sheets and personalized templates). The Patient Scheduling feature allows Appointment Reminders and Booking Services. An e-Prescribing (e-Rx) tool allows automatic prescription generation and updates to ensure that the treatment regimen is being followed as required.

Specialty-Specific Tools and Functionalities

While a Multi-Specialty EHR Software could be helpful for oncologists, a specific Oncology EMR Software could be of even more help when it comes to Cancer Management. A specialty-specific EMR solution provides tailored solutions to all the problems and tasks to be done by the physicians and the staff. This makes the use and workflow smoother since everything within the software is already related to medical practice. Hence, the staff or the doctors need not readjust everything according to their procedures.

Monitor and Control Fluctuating Conditions

Oncology  EMR/EHR or Practice Management (PM)  gives the ability to constantly monitor the patient condition and recovery progress. This helps in making informed decisions and allows us to customize or edit the treatment plan at any point according to the fluctuating conditions assuring that the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time.

Maximize Cash Reimbursements

Electronic records entered at the time of the initial contact are completely error-free and comprehensive, that automatically makes the reimbursement procedure faster. It allows the practice to charge patients immediately after the delivery of care, hence decreasing the payment time cycle, and increasing the revenue realization.

References

Lau EC, Mowat FS, Kelsh MA, Legg JC, Engel-Nitz NM, Watson HN, Collins HL, Nordyke RJ, Whyte JL. Use of electronic medical records (EMR) for oncology outcomes research: assessing the comparability of EMR information to patient registry and health claims data. Clin Epidemiol. 2011;3:259-72. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S23690. Epub 2011 Oct 11. PMID: 22135501; PMCID: PMC3224632.

Errors for an Oncology practice in documenting patient encounters can have dire consequences. Due to which, an oncology specialization requires a specialty-specific EMR system so that workflow can be streamlined all the protocols of documentation and quality care can be followed correctly.

Since the HITECH Act introduced Meaningful Use the medical and healthcare industry has been in a flurry to find the right EMR system. Oncology EMRs best through well-documented claims and improved care coordination best suit all the requirements of an oncology practice of any size.

Features of Oncology EHR & PM Software

To select the right EHR software targeted especially for an oncology specialty practice it is important to have a good understanding of how the software works. According to the 2020s Oncology Software Buyer’s Guide, enlisted below are the key features:

Oncology specific Templates – Oncology EMR software should offer customizable pre-designed templates for SOAP notes taking (e.g. applications for cancer registry, reporting, and clinical trials, etc).

Integrated Digital Imaging – Oncology EMR Software should be compatible with all the diagnostic image formats e.g. ultrasound, MRI, CT, and PET scans, etc.

ICD/CPT Codes – This makes it easier to identify the type of cancer, map its stage and recommend options for treatment.

Workflow Management – Oncology EMR Software should be able to record and store large volumes of data for long term usage. It should optimize clinical workflows by providing clinical decision support.

Lab Interface – Oncology EMR Software should provide automated digital retrieval and storage of lab results

Integration of Patient Education Materials – Oncology EMR Software through a patient portal should help educate the patients throughout the process.

Chemotherapy Management & Automation – Oncology Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software should incorporate drug administration, inventory management, and billing. In addition, automated dosing, scheduling, and ordering make orders easy to read and prevent errors.

Oncology Dashboard – Oncology EMR software must provide an insightful real-time dashboard with patient charts, profiles, billing processes, scheduling, etc.

Registry for Clinical Trial – EMR Software should offer analytics to track clinical trial, current research as well as demographic values of patients to support findings.

Top 10 Oncology Software by EMRSystems

EMRSystems values its customers and has compiled a list of the 10 best and top-rated Oncology EMR & PM software solutions for physician practices in 2020. The list is completely based on authentic customer reviews and ratings:

• Athenahealth EMR Software

• PrognoCIS EMR Software

• Kareo Clinical EMR Software

• AdvancedMD EMR Software

• NueMD EHR Software

• MOSAIQ EMR Software

• ALTAI Oncology EHR Software

• ARIA EMR Software

• iKnowMed EHR Software

• OncoEMR Software

How to Choose Oncology EHR Vendor right for your practice?

Now that you’ve shortlisted the oncology EHR & PM software vendor the following 3 factors will help you narrow the selection down to Software that fills your practices’ clinical and management requirements.

Size of Your Practice – EMR systems often follow the modular approach and are designed by keeping certain factors (e.g. the number of users, scalability, and support required, etc.) in mind.

System Design (Cloud-based vs Server-based) – System design depends on practices’ personal choice and comfort level. If your practice feels more comfortable having the system on their computer, server-based designs are the way to go otherwise cloud-based software design provides access to the authorized devices anytime anywhere.

Certification – For oncology, the certification you should be looking out for is by the ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (“ONC-ATCB”). They are responsible for making sure your vendor meets Meaningful Use objectives and is HIPAA compliance resulting in incentives.

Cost of implementation – The Journal of Oncology Practice in Usability Considerations in Oncology Electronic Medical Records by Michael J. Hassett stated that ” 54% practitioners said that their EMR increased total operating costs”. Most of the practitioners and medical officers when inquired about the features have told our representatives that they perceive them as a marketing gimmick. Our advice is to actually look at your clinical and administrative workflow to determine the aspects of the EHR you need and also consult your provider to ensure that the Oncology Software you are only paying for relevant features.