Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Data Security and Backup Solutions in Health Care

2:14 PM Nrip Nihalani

Data security is like exercise: Everyone knows it's good. Few people care enough to do it…
Which is why it is important, to have the right strategy, and the right tools. 

Computers, Keyboards, Mice and Even Hard drives fail. It's a fact of computing life. It's not a question of whether your computer will stop working or even a matter of when. The question is how much it will disrupt your life, your processes, your practice and your patients - and it won't, if you have a backup copy. 

Backing up your data is most indispensable thing you do on your computer. The 2 important considerations one must have when deciding a backup strategy are the backup media and the backup tools.  

Local Backup Media: 

Using CD/DVD’s to store data backups 

Using CD/DVD’s to store data backups is popular. Blank CD/DVD’s are inexpensive, and copying data onto CD/DVD’s is easy. Unfortunately CD/DVD’s, like the floppy disks they've replaced, have a limited shelf life. We don’t recommend this method of data backup for any practice. 

Using tapes to store data backups 

Tape backups are a many times more reliable than DVDss, but tape drives and their associated media are many times more expensive than DVD writers and CD/DVDs. A good tape drive can cost over $1000, and individual tapes for the drive can cost up to $40 each. If one can afford the equipment, however, tape backup is far more reliable and recommended backup method. 

Using external hard drives to store data backups 

External hard disks are cheap compared to tape drive systems. They’re also easy to use as most of them support plug and play use with the computers USB port. And while hard drives do fail, their failure rate is much lower than that of other backup media such as DVD’s. A big factor to why we recommend External Hard Disks as the best Local backup medium is that a single hard disk drive or a maximum of 2 used for backups may well be enough to store your practice data. 

Online Backup in the Cloud: 

An online backup service offers the advantage of securely store your files at off-site server locations, so that your data stays intact and available even if your local disks, CD/DVD’s are corrupted or in a severe case stolen. 

With more and more emphasis on "cloud computing", it only makes sense that one should take advantage of this hot trend in technology for backups.

Factors to consider when choosing an online backup service: 
Does it upload new and changed files immediately? 
Does it allow syncing or sharing of data? 
Can it back up files while you have them open? 
Is there a Web client for restoring? 
Is there a mobile client? 
Does it offer a remote control feature via my mobile phone? 
Can I view my backed up files on an iPad? 
How much will it cost? 
Is it HIPAA Compliant? 

Limitations: 

The advantages of Online Backup solutions can be limited due to bandwidth problems. 

Secondly, the method is only as reliable as the company offering the online backup service. 

Thirdly, one should ensure that HIPAA requirements are met by the vendor who is offering the Online Backup Service 

 
If you'd like to know more about TechnicalDr's flexible and powerful HIPAA Compliant Backup Solution  please check the website http://www.technicaldr.com/tdr/hipaa-compliant-backup or Call 630 433 7453 for a Super Offer - Waiver on Setup and Training Costs

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Physicians and Blogging - II

11:41 PM Nrip Nihalani

This is a follow up post to "Physicians and Blogging". Here we look at Tips for Physicians to make their Blogging experience more useful, effective and mostly fun.

1. Clearly identify a theme for your blog.

A Blog is like any other project. If you don't have a path you won't know where you end up. Create a central theme for your blog and stick to it. Avoid making multifaceted and complicated blogs


2. Use Pictures as much as possible

A picture speaks a 1000 words. To make your blogging appeal more to your readers, it would be extremely nice if you will put some pictures in it.

N.B It does not necessarily mean you have to place a picture of yourself.


3. Make it interactive

As much as possible and if your capacity will allow it, make your blog interactive. You can do this by placing some video or audio clips in your blog.You can even place an area for comments. In this way, you can get the impressions and/or reactions of other people. Who knows, you might even gain some friends just by making them feel at home in your blog site.


4. Choose a good Blogging Engine

While there are many blogging platforms and applications, there are a few simple ones which are more popular than others. Blogger and Wordpress both offer multiple free and simple to customize themes. They are both easy to use and allow one to post text, images, audio as well as videos.

In future posts we will provide a tutorial to setup a blog using each

5. Network Online

The more you network online, the more your blog gets visibility. Share your posts on Social networks. Ask other readers to give you suggestions, respond to comments. The success this brings will push you to blog more and will help make your blog even more meaningful.


Feel free to post your suggestions as well as links to your blogs in the comments sections below.
If you'd need any help setting up blogs for yourself, please let us know. We'll be Happy to Help


Happy #hcsm via @TechnicalDr and @nrip

What is ePrescribing?

10:36 AM Nrip Nihalani

ePrescribing(Electronic prescribing ) is the computer-based electronic generation, transmission and filling of a medical prescription,in effect automating the prescribing processes. E-prescribing allows a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to electronically transmit a new prescription or renewal authorization to a community or mail-order pharmacy.

Along the way, the system offers instant access to patient medication history, formulary coverage and decision support, helping you make the best possible medication choice for patients.

ePrescribing is a viable solution to counter shortcomings of the current paper-based prescribing processes that are in large part responsible for these errors

Benefits of ePrescribing:

  1. Improved patient safety and overall quality of care
  2. Reduces phone calls and call-backs to pharmacies.
  3. Eliminates faxes to pharmacies.
  4. Streamlines the refill's requests and authorization processes.
  5. Offers true Provider Mobility
  6. Improves reporting ability
  7. Increases patient compliance.
  8. By checking with healthcare formularies at point-of-care, generic substitutions and generic first-line therapy choices are encouraged thus reducing patient costs.
  9. Increases patient convenience by reducing patient trips to the pharmacy and reducing wait times.
Useful Aids:








Physicians and Blogging

8:01 AM Nrip Nihalani

Recently I came across this simple piece of advice in an infographic on OnStartups

"To be understood write a Blog, to be ignored write a Business Plan". A simple way to explain why blogging is and will be around.

A blog is basically an online journal wherein you can digitally pen down your thoughts, ideas, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read.

Like a journal, one can write their daily adventures, sentiments, and whatever ideas they want to express online.

Blogs are not a "one size fit all" concept, its more of a "This is what I feel" concept.. Given that, its no surprise that Blogs come in different types, styles and formats depending on the author/s.

Some bloggers write personal stories, some share poems, while some talk about their thoughts and ideas. Some share images, videos and audio, while some are simple text.
Instead of writing texts, some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, by publishing their ideas as audio podcasts. This is called audio blogging.

So why should a Physican blog? What can a Physician Blog about ?

Physicians as professionals, learn something unique and interesting everyday. They should blog because they have experiences which are fascinating and stories which are unique; that people want to hear. They should blog so that medical students and the younger upcoming physicians learn from their experiences. They should blog because if they don't, they will be wasting an opportunity that is available today to archive the information they possess.
 
A Physician can blog to educate, to share their vision, to market themselves and their practices, or simply show that they have a human side ...

A Blog can help you build a physicians online presence faster than any other method today. Its the natural extension to a website and due to its sticky nature, helps create an engaging presence

A Few Popular Blogs by Physicians (Just a few  from then ones we read regularly)















Feel free to post your blogs in the comments sections below.
If you'd need any help setting up blogs for yourself, please let us know. We'll be Happy to Help


Happy #hcsm via @TechnicalDr and @nrip