ABYDE FOR Stafless

It's time for stress-free compliance.

  • EASIEST SOFTWARE YOU’LL EVER USE

    And if we’re being honest, easy is an understatement. All companies say it, but we are so confident in the simplicity of our software that we will prove it.

  • ‘HANDS OFF’ APPROACH

    We automate it all – from notifications about training to policy generation. Can you imagine not having to set your own reminders?! Go ahead, focus on your patients – we will ping you with the important stuff.

  • CUSTOMER SUCCESS TEAM LIKE NO OTHER

    We will meet you where you are – whether that’s by phone, chat, or email. It’s tough stuff in the tech space, but our customers love us as much as we love them.

  • STATE BY STATE, LAW BY LAW

    No matter what state your practice is in, our solution is for you — from sea to shining sea. We know our stuff and dedicate ourselves to staying on top of the latest state and federal changes so you don’t have to.

  • MORE THAN JUST SOFTWARE

    With us, you get more than policies and software. We offer Master Classes, newsletters, and more to keep you up to date. At the end of the day, we are proud to lead with education.

LATEST COMPLIANCE NEWS

HIPAA Compliant Cloud Storage

HIPAA and the Cloud: Is Your Patients’ Data Safe or at Risk?

September 18, 2025   Sure, your dog pics and selfies are safe in the cloud… but what about your patients’ data? When technology advances, your practice evolves too. As a healthcare provider, your job is to keep your patients and their data safe. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covers protecting this data, especially how it is stored.  For example, what if a bad storm floods your practice and ruins an internal server? With cloud storage, this isn’t an issue. Cloud storage is hosted elsewhere and accessed through an internet connection, keeping your practice’s Protected Health Information (PHI) safe.  Cloud storage and computing are encouraged, but it’s up to your practice to utilize them compliantly.    Best Tips for Using Cloud Storage It’s time to do research before working with any cloud service provider. Some good questions to ask include:  Does this organization highlight its HIPAA policy on its site? Is it clear what safeguards they have in place to protect your data? Will they encrypt the PHI?  Are the servers where PHI is stored located within the United States?  While this is not a HIPAA requirement, it’s considered more secure than other nations.  Most importantly, is this cloud service provider aware of the extent of its HIPAA responsibilities?  Cloud service providers are considered Business Associates (BAs) under HIPAA. While BAs might not deal with patients directly, they handle patient data and are required to follow HIPAA legislation. Cloud service providers are considered BAs whether or not they have access to the encrypted data. Since they store it, they are considered BAs.  BAs must complete a Security Risk Analysis (SRA), train staff, maintain up-to-date documentation, and more, like any healthcare practice.  Before working with a BA, it is essential to complete a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). BAAs are legal contracts with BAs that ensure both parties are aware of their responsibilities when handling PHI and define the course of action if a breach occurs.  A BA and Covered Entity (or, healthcare practice) must complete a BAA before entering a business relationship. Your practice should also avoid working with BAs who do not want to be held legally responsible for handling PHI.  Not having a BAA with your cloud storage provider can get you into hot water with HIPAA. In fact, a university was fined nearly 3 million dollars by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR discovered that the BA and the college never signed a BAA after a breach of student health data.   Storing PHI Compliantly While choosing the right cloud service provider can be extensive, it will significantly benefit your practice.  In fact, 83 percent of small healthcare practices surveyed named cloud-based EHR implementations the most meaningful business decisions they had made in the last few years.  By doing your due diligence, working alongside your IT team, completing a BAA, and continuing to ensure the proper safeguards are in place, your patients’ PHI can be stored safely in the cloud.  As your practice adopts more innovative data management methods, your HIPAA compliance should keep pace. With the right compliance software, your practice can easily streamline requirements like the BAA.  Meet with an expert today to learn more about HIPAA compliance in your practice.

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HIPAA Access Logs

Who’s Looking at Patient Records? Access Logs Tell All

September 15, 2025 In your practice, everyone plays an important role.  From receptionists handling schedules to doctors delivering care, ensure every team member knows their role and is empowered to act on it. Role-based privileges, which dictate who has access to what information, are also part of assigning roles in your practice. For example, while your receptionist might have access to a patient’s contact information to confirm an appointment, a doctor would have access to X-rays to assist in treatment plans.  Without clear boundaries, your practice risks HIPAA violations. For example, it’s a major compliance breach if Beth from accounting looks at a patient’s sensitive health records.  That’s where access logs come into play.  HIPAA Access logs are key to ensuring that Protected Health Information (PHI) is kept secure.    What is an HIPAA Access Log? As the name suggests, HIPAA access logs account for who, when, and for how long a staff member is utilizing a specific software. Your EHR or EMR will keep a running log when staff access information. Your practice must maintain access logs for six years.  That’s why it’s so essential for every staff member to have an individual login when using your practice’s systems.  Your practice’s HIPAA Compliance Officer (HCO) must routinely monitor access to PHI. Staff must know their responsibilities and the consequences of exploiting access to health records.  The OCR takes these exposures very seriously. Earlier this year, a health organization was fined $800,000 due to unauthorized access to health records. The number of exposed patients? One. The patient became aware of this breach and reported the organization to the OCR.  An access log is imperative for monitoring unauthorized third-party access, such as hackers, in addition to ensuring staff follow their role-based responsibilities.  Healthcare records can often be compromised, and no one realizes it until it’s too late.  Cyberattacks happen to organizations of all sizes.  In fact, after the multi-billion-dollar breach, investigators found that hackers had infiltrated Change Healthcare’s systems and gone undetected for over a week.   Stay Logged In  Clear roles and HIPAA access logs aren’t just paperwork; they’re vital for the success of your practice.  Your practice must train and empower staff on their responsibilities and investigate when things seem fishy. It only takes one slip-up, even just one patient’s records, to be exposed by impermissible access and caught in the OCR’s crosshairs.  With the right software solution, your practice can streamline training, documentation, and logs within a centralized compliance hub. Smart software gives your team the tools to succeed and makes compliance completely doable. Meet with an expert today to learn more about simplifying HIPAA compliance for your practice. 

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