Healthcare IT Support: Ensuring HIPAA Compliance While Improving Patient Care

Healthcare organizations face a unique challenge: they must protect some of the most sensitive personal information while simultaneously making it accessible to care providers who need it. This balancing act requires IT partners who truly understand healthcare.

The Stakes Are Higher in Healthcare

Healthcare data breaches aren't just expensive—they can harm patients. When medical records are compromised, it affects real people's lives. That's why healthcare IT support requires a specialized approach that generic providers simply can't offer.

Common Healthcare IT Challenges

• HIPAA Compliance: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act sets strict requirements for protecting patient health information (PHI).
• EHR System Performance: Slow or unreliable electronic health record systems directly impact patient care.
• Medical Device Integration: Modern healthcare relies on connected devices that must be secure and reliable.
• Telehealth Infrastructure: The rise of virtual care requires robust, HIPAA-compliant video and communication systems.
• 24/7 Availability: Healthcare never stops, and neither can your IT systems.

HIPAA Compliance: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know

HIPAA compliance isn't optional—it's the law. Violations can result in fines ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with annual maximums up to $1.5 million. More importantly, breaches can devastate patient trust.

The Three HIPAA Safeguards

1. Administrative Safeguards: Policies, procedures, and training requirements
2. Physical Safeguards: Facility access controls and workstation security
3. Technical Safeguards: Access controls, encryption, and audit logging

A proper healthcare IT partner helps you implement all three categories of safeguards while maintaining the usability your staff needs.

EHR/EMR System Support

We support all major electronic health record systems, including:

• Epic
• Cerner
• eClinicalWorks
• Athenahealth
• NextGen
• Allscripts

Our team can help optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, configure user access, and ensure your EHR integrates properly with other systems in your practice.

Telehealth Technology Solutions

Virtual care is here to stay. We help healthcare providers implement telehealth solutions that are:

• HIPAA-compliant
• Easy for patients and providers to use
• Integrated with your existing EHR
• Reliable and high-quality

Business Associate Agreements

Under HIPAA, any vendor who handles PHI must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). Smith Network Solutions provides BAAs for all healthcare clients and takes our obligations seriously.

Get HIPAA-Compliant IT Support

Smith Network Solutions provides healthcare IT support for medical practices throughout the Atlanta metro area. We understand HIPAA requirements and can help your practice maintain compliance while improving efficiency.

Contact us today for a free HIPAA compliance assessment and learn how we can support your healthcare organization.