A4 Health Systems HealthMatics EMR First to Pass Rigorous DITSCAP / HIPAA Security Certification & Accreditation by iTM Healthcare, iTech Management, LLC of Bellevue, WA.

iTM Healthcare, a leading provider of HIPAA Security planning and consulting performed a DITSCAP security certification on the HealthMatics EMR at the request of A4 Health Systems and a potential west coast client prior to contract signiningl.The DITSCAP requirements are rightfully referred to as "HIPAA Security on Steroids" and follow the stringent National Security Agency guidelines.

Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) March 16, 2005 -- A4 Health Systems of Cary, NC has proven itself willing to go the extra mile in proving their solution is superior in every way to the competition. When asked to prove the security robustness by a west coast client prior to contact signing, A4 President John McConnell and CTO Steve Ura contracted with iTech Management, LLC to perform the most rigorous testing available. iTM Healthcare, a dedicated healthcare practice of iTech Management, LLC, and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare physical, administrative, and technology security was contracted to perform this one-time pre-certification.

In response to the increased awareness of terrorism in the United States and the theft of more hundreds of thousands of healthcare information, the HIPAA Security rules enacted by congress become effective April 21, 2005. Considering the several million dollar investment in a new EMR, A4 Health System's client was interested in a thorough due diligence of the software, including security exposure. Working under a contractually imposed deadline,

iTM Managing Director Wayne Mackert assembled a team of Sr. Network Specialists, Windows 2000 Server Specialists, PC/LAN Technicians, Active Directory and Exchange Server Administrators, Oracle database management experts, Documentation Specialists, and HIPAA Security Project Managers to accomplish a fast-paced but exhaustive security certification and accreditation. This covered all aspects of hardware operating systems, data base technology, networking, and applications security in conjunction with operational workflow.

A4's team worked with iTM prior to arrival to prepare the environment, a standalone vanilla installation of their solution. Using a myriad of tools including ISS System Scanner, ISS Internet Scanner, ISS Data Base Scanner, QualysGuard Security Appliance, Application Detective's database scanner, and others, the system and application was exhaustively scanned, assessed, and real-time remediation steps taken. In the end, A4 Health Systems HealthMatics EMR accomplished 100% remediation and passed the test with flying colors. This is the first EMR/EHR/CIS vendor to date that has taken this bold step prior to selling their product and demonstrates their commitment to their client's patient security and privacy.

About A4 Health Systems: As a privately held company, A4 focuses on the concerns of Main Street, not Wall Street. In times when many technology companies are subject to the whims of the stock market, A4 has been consistently recognized for its stability and market strength.

A4 Health Systems, originally founded as Management Systems Associates in 1970, builds its delivery of software and services on over 34 years of experience in medical technology. Based in Cary, NC, with additional locations in Novi, MI, Nashua, NH and Austin, TX. A4 is led by a proven management team that ensures the best leadership for more than 350 clinically and technologically skilled employees.

More than 1,500 clients in healthcare organizations nationwide appreciate the fact that we know them by name. A4 clients respect our commitment to premium technology, quality training and implementation, and consistent excellence in client service. You may learn more at http://www.a4healthsystems.com

About iTM Healthcare: iTM Healthcare, a dedicated healthcare management consulting practice within iTech Management, LLC, provides C-level executive management consulting to payer and provider information technology organizations. iTM Healthcare is a nationally recognized HIPAA Security Expert and has also demonstrated defense and homeland security expertise through their successful DITSCAP (Defense Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation Process) engagements in the healthcare field. iTM Healthcare is a results oriented, been-there/done-that consulting group which hires only healthcare IT executives with a minimum of 10 years management consulting AND 10 years of healthcare corporate Director /VP /CIO/ CTO experience. iTM Healthcare and iTech Management, LLC deliver results to their clients, not documents. As a member of the Mentorship Group, iTech Management, LLC maintains Strategic Alliances with local and nationally based technology, security and management consulting firms such as TripleNet Technologies, Inc., The Watson Group, Borgard Consulting, and Qualys, a leading security vulnerability appliance vendor. iTM Healthcare is also a QualysGuard Security Consultant vendor.

For more information please contact Wayne Mackert at (425) 891-2128. More information is available at http://www.itechmanagement.com.

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