Prepare Your Health Organization

The 21st Century Cures Act was created to provide patients easier access to their medical records. While empowering patients is a good thing, many medical providers must make changes to ensure they’re prepared.

Now that the Cures Act has gone into effect, hospitals and healthcare clinics must take steps to follow its principles while also upholding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which safeguard sensitive patient information from unauthorized individuals. Organizations must also ensure they have the technological capabilities to exchange information electronically. The following are a few possible steps healthcare providers can take to ensure compliance:

Make Sure You Understand Your Requirements

The Cures Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation, so hospitals are encouraged to do a deep dive into its many components. Doing so will apprise your organization of its exact responsibilities. In a broad sense, you will be required to:

Ensure patients can affordably request their records
Allow patients to choose from many different healthcare apps
Deter information blocking while also protecting patient confidentiality

Identify All Possible Sources of Data

How are patient records currently kept at your organization? Can they easily be transferred electronically? Is data kept in hard copies as well as electronic ones? Performing an extensive audit of your data collection and retention systems is the first step to ensure interoperability, or the free flow of information.

Consider Current HIPAA Compliance Standards

One of the most challenging aspects of the Cures Act is balancing easy access to data with patient confidentiality. In some cases, your current HIPAA standards may counter the rules within the Cures Act. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to confer with their teams, including legal and IT departments, to see where they currently stand and what would need to change to maintain full compliance.

If you have questions about compliance and are unsure how to proceed, DrOwl Is here to help. Our healthcare app is designed to ensure optimum interoperability while also safeguarding patient confidentiality. App features like messaging and video visits are fully HIPAA-compliant, as are all data transmissions taking place within the app.

DrOwl is a technology that facilitates greater access to patient’s healthcare information, while also giving your organization the tools it needs to protect itself.