Using Windows XP... you won't be compliant!

[PMRNC]

http://www.emrandhipaa.com/emr-and-hipaa/2013/12/12/windows-xp-wont-be-hipaa-compliant-april-8-2014/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#!

As of 4/8/2014  Windows XP will NOT be HIPAA compliant.     

[RichardP]

Here's a link from the comments section of Linda's link:

http://www.additiveanalytics.com/blog/04-08-2014-will-organization-lose-hipaa-compliance/

[DMK]

Okay.  Here's my rant for the month    I am SO fed up with being forced to change crap yet again!  HCFA forms, coding, software, electronic claims, uploads, downloads, now I have to buy new computers for new frickin' operating systems.  Doesn't anyone realize that it all costs money, and lots of it?  The public complains about health care costing too much, but this is all part of it!  We can use our hands and brains to provide the ACTUAL care, but the tools required to just file a damn claim keep having to be changed again and again!  GRRRRRRR!

[PMRNC]

I don't know why vendors are not going APPLE... come on and catch up.. I think people would pay a bit more for better security. There is no debate that Apple has a better platform than Windows by far and much more superior.
So why don't PM vendors get on board with technology? Make Microsoft improve ...   I for one am sick of switching to Windows or downloading windows updates that crash. I moved away from XP a while ago and I agree 12 years is a long time.

[Michele]

Wow, thanks for sharing the info!  I had no idea. 

[Merry]

Funny thing is that all the offices here (Stanford etc) use XP. WE have known about the cut off for years. Isn't anyone listening?

Merry

[Billing2]

Okay.  Here's my rant for the month    I am SO fed up with being forced to change crap yet again!  HCFA forms, coding, software, electronic claims, uploads, downloads, now I have to buy new computers for new frickin' operating systems.  Doesn't anyone realize that it all costs money, and lots of it?  The public complains about health care costing too much, but this is all part of it!  We can use our hands and brains to provide the ACTUAL care, but the tools required to just file a damn claim keep having to be changed again and again!  GRRRRRRR!

I'm right with you DMK.

[RichardP]

This is an attempt to be useful.  If it is inappropriate, someone can take it down.

We have a 12-computer network that is connected to a 75-computer network - all individual doctors and staff, not a doctors group.  I have never purchased new computers for our network.  Always used.  I get a computer, plus the operating system, for less than the cost of the operating system (roughly $250 - $350 per computer).  First group of used computers lasted about eight years.  They would have continued being useful, but they were Win2000 and I needed WinXP.  Have had the used WinXP computers for about 3 years, and am getting ready to replace them with newer used computers that have multi-core and Win7 - because we will be upgrading to a Win SQL-Server-based practice management system that benefits from multi-core.  (Our dinosaur billing software will not be upgraded to print to the new CMS Form come April 1.)

For those who have WinXP and would like Win7 for HIPAA compliance, this might be an inexpensive way to make the switch.  I am using the Dell Optiplex 745 - so that is the page I am linking to here.  You can back up to the home page and explore other stuff if you want.  They have a huge warehouse just south of Los Angeles.  I picked up my computers in person, but they will ship to wherever you are.

http://www.insightsystemsonline.com/search.asp?keyword=dell+optiplex&search.x=0&search.y=0

My guy is:

Michael Amodeo |  Insight Systems Exchange | ph-714.622.3181 | fax-714.751.3613
| cell-203.819.0458

If you are curious about the practice management system, here is the link.  We are not getting the EMR, so we will shell out around $7,000.  Full system is around $15,000, but EMR and Practice Management share a single database.  And it has pop-up notes, which we need due to the complexity of our billing (labs and radiology, etc.)

http://www.mdsuite.com/practice-management

(They are in a suburb of San Diego.  Kareo is in or is close to Irvine, CA - about halfway between LA and San Diego, give or take.)

[PMRNC]

Full system is around $15,000, but EMR and Practice Management share a single database.  And it has pop-up notes, which we need due to the complexity of our billing (labs and radiology, etc.)

You mean each client has their own database right? Just clarifying.

I'm still scratching my head as to why vendors don't move to MAC.. it's an awfully well known FACT they are more secure. I'm GUESSING it's costs. Good thing MAC doesn't put costs ahead of quality unlike Microsoft.     I moved from XP a long time ago as it was a horrible OS.. with each new version of Microsoft Windows comes NEW problems.. even Microsoft servers leave a lot to be desired with functionality and security.  Sorry.. JMHO

[shanbull]

Annnd of course no one at our clinic had any idea. This is great. 100% of our computers run on XP.

[RichardP]

You mean each client has their own database right? Just clarifying.

Short answer is "yes".  Note that we are not using the EMR part of the program.  As a billing service, we will buy one instance of the Practice Management part of the program, which can open and use multiple databases.  We use one database for each client.  We could use only one database, and place all of our clients in that single database, but would probably run afoul of the next paragraph.

One database can house multiple providers, for both the EMR and the Practice Management functions.  However, there is a slightly-lesser fee charged by the vendor to "allow" the database to process data for each subsequent provider.

I'm still scratching my head as to why vendors don't move to MAC.. it's an awfully well known FACT they are more secure.

Apple devices are not inherently more secure.  The perceived security comes from the fact that they have such a small business market-share that no hacker with any pride will write a virus or worm, etc. for Apple products.  Biggest destruction bang for the buck is to write malicious code for PC machines.

Since Apple started using Intel processers a few years ago, you can run any Windows program on an Apple machine after installing an appropriate piece of software.  These Windows programs, run on Apple machines, are just as susceptible to viruses and worms etc. as they are when run on PC machines.

[RichardP]

Annnd of course ... 100% of our computers run on XP.

Re. the comments sections of the links that Linda and I provided above:  someone made the point that probably all vulnerabilities of WinXP have been exploited by now, so no great shakes that Microsoft will stop writing patches.  Someone else suggested that maybe some particularly vicious hackers, knowing that Microsoft will stop writing patches as of a certain data, have discovered vulnerabilities and written hacks for them, waiting until the day after Microsoft stops supporting WinXP.  When released after that date, all malicious code will have nothing to stop it from spreading destruction to all WinXP computers.  Perhaps a bit overblown, but a possibility nonetheless.  I guess we will find out, as lots of folks are in shanbull's position - they don't know about this, and will continue operating with WinXP computers.

[KarenH]

Still waiting for the new release of the program I use and getting very impatient it runs on XP. Promises and promises for well over a year now. I haven't found another program that I like and is as user friendly and works for a billing service but getting close to moving all clients over to another program. Every time I call to find out about the re-write I just get another excuse. My clients love the reports it's user friendly but I don't think it's being handled well at all. Just venting...

[Michele]

What program are you on?

[PMRNC]

5 or 6 years ago I'd never thought I would get to the point where I LOVE web base/ASP.  LOL  I was totally against it but Now I don't think many vendors stand a chance w/out it today.