HIPAA

The system we use is totally confidential and HIPAA compliant and has been tested rigorously by our largest clients.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 standardized the electronic exchange of sensitive patient data to protect patients from unauthorized disclosure of their medical data. AccuStat's internal processes and procedures for privacy and security meet and exceed all HIPAA regulations related to Electronic Transmission of patient Information.

Can the Internet be used for medical transcription and still meet HIPAA requirements?

A medical transcription service provider can meet HIPAA requirements using encryption and password protection, which prevents unauthorized access to protected health information. Voice files recorded on portable recorders need to be encrypted before transmission over the Internet, but telephone dictations do not require encryption. AccuStat uses encrypted e-mail to send the transcribed documents to the healthcare provider.

Privacy

Only those authorized by the originator of the dictation is provided access to a file on our system. We will not release any files directly to the patient, for we believe that the responsibility, which enables a patient to control his health records — access, disclosures, "minimum necessary" standard, consent, authorization, and so on — is vested with the medical professional who initiated the document.