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FootZine,
Volume 9 |
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You may have seen the FootZine memo on November 26th about the hacker invasion of the server that hosts FootZine.com. It took ten days, but the web sites and email have all been revived. Unfortunately, email that was sent via the FootZine.com address was lost during that time, so I have no way of seeing or responding to it. If you wrote to me between November 23rd and December 4th, please go ahead and send it again. Ray is confident that those problems will not recur. *_* *_* *_* APMA has notified its members that their HIPAA Privacy Manual, compiled by Kevin West, J.D., is now available via the APMA members-only web site. The member's APMA ID number and password will be required in order to download the document. It can also be obtained in print form, for a $15.00 shipping and handling fee, by calling 1-800-372-0775. April is very close now - we need all the help we can get, right? ~ Gayle *_* Letters
*_* From: Gail Bennett, PMACre: Certification and Recertification Hi Gayle, I am rather distressed about the (re)certification news. First they raise the amount of CME's needed, then they make it almost impossible for an assistant to become certified. What do you see happening with this? Surely not too many podiatrists can send their assistants to a seminar plus pay $250.00 for them to attend the course and take the exam. I think the review course is wonderful, but look at all of our assistants that have passed the test just fine without the course. Why are they requiring the course anyway? Just to make money? Gail Bennett, PMAC *_* *_* *_* From: Gail Bennett, PMAC re: Diabetic Shoes, and Kudos Please pass on to Judy that we use Benefoot for our diabetic shoe program. The shoes are New Balance and a couple of others. I know that Langer bought out Benefoot, but I'm not sure if they bought all aspects of Benefoot. We also purchase our Orthotic Birkenstocks from them and have been quite pleased. We still really like Pro Lab for our orthotics. A special thank you to Dr. Hal Ornstein and Ray Posa for doing articles in FootZine. What a treat. Gail Bennett, PMAC iamaworkaholic@juno.com *_* HIPAA
Q & A *_* The Questions:by Raymond F. Posa, MBA 1) I do wonder about the sign-in sheet, we were told I thought by Kevin West at the ASPMA National Seminar in August that sign-in sheets are ok, not to worry about them. 2) I also am very confused about locking cabinets for charts. I got the feeling that we didn't need them, but I hear of offices spending a fair amount of money that most Podiatrists don't have and wonder if we really need to go to all that bother. Could you please pass this on and see what Ray says? Thanks, I have tons of questions. I know that APMA is going to have a book on HIPAA in January, by Kevin West, but I am already hearing conflicting opinions on what is true and what is not. Is there any way that Ray and Kevin could compare notes? Would Kevin be willing to write for your newsletter too and maybe read what Ray writes and then give his version? Dr. Douglas and I went to a seminar in Spokane put on by an insurance company that writes malpractice for optometrists and I felt that they gave different opinions also. I have a notebook they passed out, but it doesn't really say much. Thanks again Gayle. Gail Bennett, PMAC The Answers: To answer the two questions in this E-mail: 1) I am confident that sign-in sheets that show all of the patients' names are out. There are stationery stores that are making a sign-in book with tear-off slips, so that a patient signs the slip and hands it in. 2) As for the locking cabinets for the charts, HIPAA does not tell you how to secure your records, nor does it endorse any method. It merely states that you must control access to your records and provide for tracking of those who access the records. How you accomplish this is up to the individual. I have heard doctors saying that they have to get folding metal gates to lock up the records. That may be one solution, but it not THE solution, and again, HIPAA does not endorse one method over another. Hope this helps. I'll be getting a copy of Kevin's book and give it a read. I am also going to be speaking at the Region One conference in Boston on December 14th, as will Kevin; this will give us an opportunity to speak face to face. There is enough confusion going around and with April 14th looming, HIPAA it going to get real very soon (this is when the privacy section goes into effect and the real enforcement and fines begin; no extensions on this one). By: Raymond F. Posa, MBA Technology Advisor to the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management President, R. Francis Associates These questions and their answers will be archived on the FootZine web site on the "HIPAA FAQ" page, at http://www.footzine.com/FZ_50.htm Email your HIPAA questions to: gaylejohnson@FootZine.com *_* *_*
*_* As the season progresses with frost and fog,
and in some areas, serious snow and ice, I hope you'll be careful,
safe and warm.......and I hope you'll find time to write!~ Gayle
DISCLAIMER: Acceptance and publication of any letter, article, news item
or advertisement does not necessarily constitute or imply approval or
endorsement by myself of the product, idea, or content therein. I reserve
the right to edit or to not publish any material received. Any health- or
legal-related information is for educational purposes only and should not
be construed as medical or legal advice or a substitute for the advice of a health
care professional or attorney. Information pertaining to legal matters should not Gayle S. Johnson, PMAC |
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