For this special episode of Armchair HIPAA we have, for the first time, two guests! Wyatt Murray (consultant) and Michael Hannan (chief security officer) are employed by LightEdge Solutions! They are experts in Software as a Service (SAAS) and how it helps the healthcare industry stay secure and compliant without burden. Using third party SAAS organizations like LightEdge relieves a lot of stress that covered entities typically try to take on by themselves. Trying to take on too much work that you don’t have the time or expertise to handle leads to disastrous mistakes. Reach out for some extra help and consider SAAS.

Connect with Wyatt Murray on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyatt-murray-471a5aa4/

And with Michael Hannan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hannan-4a013410/

For more information about LightEdge visit: https://www.lightedge.com/

And if you haven't already, find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/

website: https://hipaatrek.com/ 

Nick Gallo Chief Servant at ComplianceLine, is full of wise advice for compliance leaders. He has an interesting take on leadership roles that can frankly be applied to any business. Nick talks about the rebranding of the compliance role and how our industry is moving down a more intimate path; it won't be enough to just sit in your office monitoring compliance from your computer. Try pulling from the natural empathy within your staff and apply it to your everyday tasks. Or, in a similar way, draw on the empathy within yourself to reach out to those in other departments. Don't get left in the dust, start implementing these changes in your organization today!

Connect with Nick Gallo on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngallo/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Nanette Awad is the Senior HIPAA Privacy & HIM Manager at Molina Healthcare. She joins us on the podcast to talk about her experiences and how her job has changed through the years. Everything from the annoyance of tracking down physicians for signatures to interacting with a smarter patient force. This is not an episode you want to miss!

Connect with Nanette Awad on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanette-awad-rhia-chc-chps-bb360226/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Erin MacLean, founder of ComplyInStride joins us today to share with us her advice about how to deal with the "dirt in the corner". Erin and Sarah compare compliance to a walk in the mountains, the pied piper, and "zoomfits"-a term Erin herself coined for zoom outfit. They are huge nerds and can relate any off topic conversation back to HIPAA compliance. Erin wants our listeners to know that no matter how bad things seem, there are always resources and people around to help you. But that doesn't mean that it's not easier to handle things before they get out of hand. If you're struggling with an investigation, or know that if the OCR swang by you might be in some hot water, give Erin a call. Visit complyinstride.com or call (844) 888-0464 for a consultation.

Erin mentions a webinar she's doing with Dena Castricone on March 2nd. On that webinar they will present the policies they've created! Be sure to register for that using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkduuhqzMsE9wrjM8Cup9JIyYTO1CHj1TK

Connect with Erin MacLean on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-f-maclean-jd-chc-chpc-38b231120/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Nancy Sabino is the IT Strategy and Compliance Master at SabinoComp Tech. Her, Sarah and hopefully by now all of you, know the importance of training your employees. But most employees that aren’t in IT, don’t understand how their behaviors in the software can damage the computer and compromise PHI. Not following HIPAA regulations set up to prevent weak spots in technology and believing that having the latest updates automatically protects against malware are two of the biggest mistakes Nancy sees every day in her line of work. Listen to her explain the ways you can mitigate these risks.

If you’re interested in hiring Nancy for her IT and healthcare compliance expertise visit her website: https://sabinocomptech.com/

Connect with Nancy Sabino on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancysabino/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Mike Annand is the Director of Customer Compliance at Armor Cloud Security and he joins us today to talk a little bit about how Armor can be an excellent tool to help aid you in your compliance journey! However, him and Sarah mostly chat about the differences between compliance and security and how the COVID-19 pandemic has not only made it harder for covered entities to protect against ransomware, but it has also made their job so much easier! Be sure to settle in for this episode packed with rich information!

Connect with Mike Annand on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-annand-5220/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Rachael Stark is the HIM Director at Bartlett Regional Hospital. She can handle it all! She has to manage medical, behavioral and addictive health making sure to be in compliance with HIPAA, CFR Part 2, and C.A.R.E.S! Rachael has to make sure that her employees are following all the rules, keeping patient information safe and secure. Rachael talks about how she found herself in this position and the joys of having a supportive community. Don't miss a minute!

Connect with Rachael Stark on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-stark-54004697/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Jeremy Lougee joins us on this episode to help compliance officers take their compliance plan to the next level. What you are doing in your organization may be technically compliant but not in line with the spirit of the law. In the case of a breach the OCR wants to see proof that your organization were putting patient protected information first. Jeremy has very helpful advice on how you can bring your compliance program from binders and excel to a single comprehensive and actionable plan. 

Connect with Jeremy Lougee on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylougee/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

Tom Bennett is the Director Of Information Technology at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Ranken Jordan is known in the St. Louis, MO area as beacon of hope for a lot of families. Working and raising a family 30 minutes away from the city, Sarah is personally familiar with the impact they have on the community. It was a joy have Tom as a guest and learn about the culture of the hospital and how he and his team work together to make compliance work for their providers and patients rather than looking at it as an obstacle. Tom offers a lot of great advice an insight into how Ranken Jordan Pediatric innovates with compassion. It's impossible to not learn something from this impactful episode of Armchair HIPAA

Connect with Tom Bennett on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bennett-4506a11/

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/

The OCR has proposed some privacy rule changes that could shake up the way your covered entity handles patient records. Dena Castricone, Privacy and Healthcare Attorney at DMC Law, has come onto Armchair HIPAA to emphasize some of the changes that could be coming. Sarah and Dena breakdown the proposed rule changes and explain what could mean major policy overhaul and what could be a positive load off your shoulders, depending on your current policies. Dena stresses, that these are only proposed changes but now is the time to look them over. Once these changes are posted to the federal register you only have 60 days to submit your comments and concerns. Make sure you understand the changes and be sure to comment once they are posted!

To review the proposed changes visit https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/regulatory-initiatives/index.html

Connect with Dena Castricone on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denacastricone/

or email her at [email protected]

www.dmclawllc.com

Dena and Sarah mention a HIPAA Huddle with Erin Maclean, where they talk about the very same proposed rule changes in further detail. It's a 3 part HIPAA Huddle, so if you've missed that and would like to learn more you can watch the huddles on youtube linked below:

Review of Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes Part 1

Review of Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes Part 2

Review of Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes Part 3

And if you haven't already find Sarah Badahman and HIPAAtrek on Linkedin:

Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbadahman/

HIPAAtrek: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipaatrek/?viewAsMember=true

website: https://hipaatrek.com/