Document Storage and HIPPA
With so many opinions, regulations and general paranoia’s about document storage around these days, it can be hard to know what to do. The term compliance can strike fear in the hearts of many, regardless of their industry. But specifically, the health care and financial industries seem to have it the hardest when it comes to backing up their data and creating a world of systems that insures proper maintenance and availability.
At Exodus, we understand that it is not only important to follow the law but to design an organized and efficient world for yourself, your employees and your customers. In most cases, it is advised to have both an archived electronic version of confidential records as well as a physical copy. And as a general rule, it is suggested for both space and security to store these physical documents separately from the place where the work is being done. For this reason we offer constantly monitored, totally secured, climate controlled storage for all your professional document storage needs.
Non compliance is a serious issue and can level some pretty serious fees. In order to avoid this type of legal breakdown its important to ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have tried and tested policies in place for data storage?
What is your current system to protect confidential information such as client and human resource files?
How do you insure that your documents are well maintained and not easily compromised?
If a legal situation occurred would you be able to provide the complete information needed quickly?
The Law: HIPPA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed in 1996. This privacy policy mandates how personal health information must be collected, handled and stored.
Who it’s for: HIPPA effects companies and individuals alike but specifically requires health care services to carefully monitor the way they transmit confidential information between sources and carriers.
Storage Guidelines: HIPPA requires that organizations retain long term patient information and records in a secure environment with limited access in an offsite location.
Noncompliance Penalty: Every state is different but disregarding this act and the provisions therein could produce fines of up to $250k per incident and up to 10 years in prison.
