Conference season is exciting – you meet new people, learn new things, and most companies reveal new products and solutions. As you know, in light of COVID-19, conferences and tradeshows are on pause for now. But, we wanted to remind you that even though we can’t shake hands or say hello in person, we’re still here for you.

So much has emerged from this pandemic: kindness, commitment, sacrifice, and perseverance. We’ve heard the heartwarming stories of nurses connecting families in our new touchless world. We’ve seen the PPE marks and bruises on the faces of healthcare professionals from working tireless shifts.

Today I realized that in September of this year, I will have been in Healthcare IT for 28 years. During that period of time, I've performed a number of jobs and learned many different things. I've been in both technical and non-technical roles, in staff and leadership positions, and had the pleasure of working with some amazing people in many different states. The greatest lesson I have learned along my journey is that people are the most important aspect of any successful technology project.

On August 14^th at 2:00 p.m. ET, join me for "How the Human Factor Impacts Patient Privacy," an educational webinar where I’ll discuss a number of breaches and show examples of how the human factor was ultimately the root cause. Use the link above to register to attend, and read the rest of this blog post for the background to set the stage.

Based on an Interview with Seana-Lee Hamilton
Privacy Officer for Fraser Health in British Columbia

Peanut butter and jelly; milk and cookies; Canada and hockey — some things just go together. One more to add to the list — data security and patient privacy. You just can’t have effective and robust patient privacy without security. How secure is data that isn’t private?

Based on an Interview with Dan Rossi
Director of Health Information, Privacy and Compliance Officer, Harrington Memorial Hospital

When Privacy and Compliance Officer Dan Rossi talks about protecting patient privacy, he preaches vigilance in this age of technological convenience.

We all probably have heard the old saying “Ignorance is Bliss.”  Many of us, as we get older, look back fondly on our childhood and remember how true that was. Children often have the luxury of being able to go through life without knowing what it's like to have to work to eat, clothe, and shelter themselves and their family. Adulthood, on the other hand, quickly brings the realization that life brings on a multitude of challenges and lots of stress. The simplicity of life and the bliss that accompanies it is what Thomas Gray was talking about when he coined the phrase.  Ahh, to be a child again…

When I talk to the privacy staff at healthcare organizations, they tell me that they understand the benefits of using technology for their patient privacy program, but they’re having a difficult time justifying the cost.