Ensuring Proper Healthcare, by Improving One Office at a Time

Patients Are Urged to Participate in National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign to Educate Healthcare Practitioners on New Patient Privacy Act

Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) April 11, 2003 ---Patients across the United States are urged to take part in the National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign (http://www.medicalprosystems.com), a grassroots campaign to improve healthcare by educating the public on the new Patient Privacy Act, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign is sponsored by American Marketing, an international incentive and marketing company based in Chicago.

"Everyday, ordinary people can make a difference in reducing healthcare costs and ensuring the security of patient data. Without a grassroots campaign, such as the National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign, to force the issue of improved healthcare, HIPAA stands a good chance of destroying more than it was expected to help," says Jim Eckner, Master General Agent for Medical Professional Systems, a consultant for HIPAA compliant practice management systems.

On April 14th, 2003, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 goes into effect. HIPAA (pronounced "hippa", like "hippo") requires all medical practitioners to comply with a laundry list of regulations that will protect and secure every person's medical records and history. HIPAA has great impact on medical data issues---particularly those related to handling, transfer, storage and processing of medical data between the doctor's office and the insurance companies that support the health care community.

The National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign urges all people to speak with the Practice Management Officer ("PMO") at their healthcare provider's office and ask the PMO, "Are you HIPAA compliant?"

Why speak to the PMO? The PMO is one of the most important people in the office of the healthcare provider. That person is directly in charge of managing the security of personal medical records, and it is this person's responsibility to ensure the safety of every patient's personal medical information.

The National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign suggests that, if the PMO or primary healthcare provider cannot give a clear answer on HIPAA compliance, or if they ask for a waiver to be signed, the person should read the waiver very carefully, don't sign it, then recommend that the PMO or primary healthcare provider look at the Medical Professional Systems webpage at http://www.medicalprosystems.com. A signed waiver allows the healthcare provider to bypass the law and allow personal records to go unprotected; disregarding the very law designed to protect and secure patient records.

By bringing attention to the importance of medical records security, patients can do their part in improving healthcare in America.

For more information on the National Office-to-Office Healthcare Campaign or if you are a healthcare provider and wish to learn more about Medical Professional Systems and HIPAA solutions for your practice, please contact Mr. Jim Eckner at 312-719-0301, or email questions@medicalprosystems.com


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