sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telecom Service & Providers line measurements

From what I can see HIPPA forbids faxes. I can't think of anything more unsecure than a fax transmission. Maybe you need to talk to the backward docs.

From the HHS government website:

Technical Safeguards

Access Control
A covered entity must implement technical policies and procedures that allow only authorized persons to access electronic protected health information (e-PHI).

Audit Controls
A covered entity must implement hardware, software, and/or procedural mechanisms to record and examine access and other activity in information systems that contain or use e-PHI.

Integrity Controls
A covered entity must implement policies and procedures to ensure that e-PHI is not improperly altered or destroyed. Electronic measures must be put in place to confirm that e-PHI has not been improperly altered or destroyed.

Transmission Security
A covered entity must implement technical security measures that guard against unauthorized access to e-PHI that is being transmitted over an electronic network.

-Hal

I know they are HIPPA compliant. The new Medical Manager program is approved by the U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services which is the administration which enforces HIPPA. I think it's the department's way of dealing with this very issue of POTS and security. I do know that the FAX machines used for medical records are in a room with access control at every facility (I know this because we installed the access control) and is very well secured. The general FAX machines are in the office manager's office.

Rcaman

So the machines are in a secured area but what about the transmission security? Anybody in or outside the building could easily tap the line. Just goes to show how ignorant the government is if they allow this but make you jump through hoops for network security.

-Hal

Since when does a government mandate make sense? I remember when Mother wanted to get into the CATV business back in the late 50s. The government said "Monopoly." The CATV business was a miserable mess of incompatible systems and equipment. Milton Shapp got in bed with the FCC and became a multi-millionaire over night and basically monopolized the CATV business.

Have you ever had to do the background white noise circus in a health care facility? Talk about ridiculous rules that make absolutely no engineering sense.

Today, it's just a matter of following all the rules and just shut your mouth and walk away shaking your head.

Rcaman