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Monday Rx | May 13, 2019 | How Can Your Practice Stay Protected With the Rise in Data Breaches?

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Data Breaches in the Healthcare Industry

Breaches are becoming more common and ransoms are now part of the American lexicon.  Providers, health plans and their business associates reported 44 data breaches to the federal government last month which is the highest number of healthcare breaches reported in a single month since HHS' Office for Civil Rights began maintaining its online database of healthcare breaches in 2010, surpassing the previous record—exactly one year ago, April 2018—when healthcare groups reported 42 breaches to the agency.

In spite of the record number of incidents reported last month, April experienced a downtick in the number of people who had data exposed. Healthcare breaches reported in April compromised data from 686,953 people, down 29% from the 963,794 people affected by breaches reported in March. Two breaches reported in April each exposed data on more than 100,000 people.

Top January breaches by number affected:

  • Doctors Management Services, Inc., a Business Associate. 206,695 people were affected in a Hacking/IT Incident. Network Servers were targeted
  • Centrelake Medical Group, Inc., a Healthcare Provider. 197,661 people were affected in a Hacking/IT Incident. Network Servers were targeted.
  • Gulf Coast Pain Consultants, LLC d/b/a Clearway Pain Solutions Institute, a Healthcare Provider. 35,000 people were affected in a Unauthorized Access/Disclosure. Electronic Medical Records were targeted
  • EmCare, Inc., a Healthcare Provider. 31,236 people were affected in a Hacking/IT Incident. Emails were targeted.
  • Minnesota Department of Human Services, a Healthcare Provider. 10,263 people were affected in a Hacking/IT Incident. Emails were targeted.

LACMA is in negotiations with LibertyID, which provides one of the most comprehensive and affordable identity theft protection programs available today.  They have dedicated recovery specialists to work on victims' behalf with entities involved to dispute and resolve issues that can impact a medical practice for years.

I will share the program and LACMA discounts in the coming weeks.
 


Member Feedback (Technology and Burnout)

Last week I shared some information on the topic of "Does Technology Have an Impact on Physician Burnout?"

Here were some responses:

"It is a gross misnomer to refer to the EHR as "technology" the EHR is a keyboarding system for a physician to waste his or her time as a "Data Entry" staff member for purposes of regulatory compliance and billing. TECHNOLOGY is improved medical imaging. TECHNOLOGY is improved immunotherapy. TECHNOLOGY is the use of augmented reality as a real time surgical tool.  The term TECHNOLOGY should not be sullied in an application which is designed to distract the physician from the mission of patient care."

Another member shared this link on his point of view.
 


Marketplace is Live!

Members can now save by purchasing what they need in the LACMA Marketplace.  From apparel to data storage, paper supplies to vaccines, antiseptic products to test kits and pharmaceuticals, the site is both convenient and saves our members money. The site is powered by our partners, Sterling Healthcare Logistics.

Try it and let us know what you think or contact: info@sterlinghl.com, (888) 902-4367.
 


Our Partnership With Westpac



Last Friday Eve, our Marketing & Membership Manager, and I spoke with Westpac to improve our partnership and discuss more ways that they can provide our members with phenomenal services that result in huge savings.

Finding a respectable and highly sought advisor in this day and age can be far and few between. That is why we have chosen to work with WestPac Wealth Partners: their recognition with the medical community, the respect and trust they have earned by doing proper planning, doing the due diligence and creating customized planning for physicians, while catering to where one is in their career.

Every person is different but they work with physicians to assess your practice's needs. Here is a link to the Living Balance Sheet (LBS) that Westpac provides at no cost to all our members. The LBS is a powerful tool that will help guide Westpac in helping you to achieve your goals and monitor the steps necessary to allow for optimum service to your accounts while meeting the necessary steps needed to keep everyone organized and attentive to your performance.

 

 


 

 

2019 LACMA Elections

LACMA is holding its 148th Annual Election next month. This year, there is one vacancy for the position of Secretary and three vacancies for Councilor-at-Large. Active members of LACMA will be receiving a communication next week via email or mail with voting instructions. Voting will be conducted online. Please be sure to keep an eye out for the notice!  For additional information about the election process or the candidates, please visit www.losangelesmedicine.org or contact Lisa Le at lisa@lacmanet.org or (213) 226-0304.

Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association "If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me."
 


EVENTS AND COMMUNITY


 
LACMA/athenahealth Dinner


athenahealth partnered with the Los Angeles County Medical Association to host a dinner where attendees will view a presentation that will focus on thriving independently, patient engagement, and maximizing self-pay collections.

 
WHEN: Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 WHERE: Brio Coastal Bar and Kitchen 21532 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503RSVP



Los Angeles County Medical Association's Annual Installation of Officers



You are Invited!
Join us in celebrating Dr. Sion Roy, a Harbor-UCLA Medical Center cardiologist, who will become LACMA's youngest president in the organization
WHEN: June 21, 2019 WHERE: Riviera Country Club 1250 Capri Drive Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

RSVP
 
 

Skid Row Housing Trust Summer Dinner Series




Join the Skid Row Housing Trust for this fundraising event focused on raising valuable general operating support for the Trust.
WHEN: Thursday, May 16th, 2019 WHERE: The Star Apartments Community Room 240 E. 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014Learn more!