Does Your Orthopedic Center Still Use CDs?

Is your orthopedic center still shuttling CDs when sharing medical images? It may be time for an upgrade!

In orthopedic care, medical images are key for diagnosing and treating patients right. However, many orthopedic centers face problems sharing these important files. They usually use CDs for this, but that has its drawbacks.

This old way of doing things can slow down care and make things less efficient. Yet, many providers are still using CDs when sharing healthcare images outside their facilities.

This legacy technology ranks among faxes, printers, and papers, that get in the way of faster release of information (ROI).

They have their place in the history of healthcare, but these methods need to be put to rest to become a forward-facing orthopedic center. Modern solutions are needed to keep up with the demand for faster access to medical records, including imaging.

These new digital solutions are designed to make it simpler and quicker to share medical images.

In this article, we will talk about why it’s time to move away from CDs and how going digital can change how your orthopedic center works with medical images.

The Era of CDs in Orthopedic Imaging

Orthopedic centers began using CDs for medical imaging in the 1990s. They were a big step in moving from old film to new digital methods in medical imaging.

Let’s look at how CDs became popular and how they helped:

• Switching from film to digital: Orthopedic imaging used to depend on physical films that were hard to carry around. CDs made things easier because they were digital, smaller, and easier to share.
• CDs became popular fast: they were handy and small, quickly becoming the main way to share medical images. They helped move from old film methods to newer digital ways.
• Easier to use and carry: CDs simplify storing and moving medical images. Doctors and patients could use them more easily than physical film, which was really helpful for sharing information and getting second opinions.
• Some limits kept CDs in use: Even though new digital ways to store and share images were coming up, CDs stayed popular. This was thanks to the technical limitations of older systems.
• Fear of HIPAA: Compliance is one of the reasons an orthopedic center would still want to use CDs when sharing images. Healthcare facilities believe it’s safe and protects them from regulatory issues.

It also doesn’t help that there were several data breaches in 2018 involving third-party vendors. That’s why CDs were still the main way to share images even with new tech like electronic health records.

Challenges with Using CDs in A Modern Orthopedic Center

CDs have proven their significance since they were used as tools in healthcare. Today, they present several challenges that get in the way of the swift delivery of orthopedic care.

Here’s why CDs are now inconvenient:

1. Tech issues: New medical devices and computers often don’t have CD drives. This creates problems in accessing and using CDs.
2. Slow process: Making, labeling, and sending CDs takes a lot of time. This slows down patient diagnosis and treatment.
3. Security risks: CDs can be lost, stolen, or damaged, putting patient information at risk. They also lack the latest security features like encryption.
4. Environmental concerns: Producing and throwing away CDs harms the environment, a growing concern in healthcare.
5. Administrative workload: Handling CDs means a lot of extra work, like keeping track of them and ensuring they’re properly stored. There’s also a lack of standard process and communication when requesting images on CD.
6. Not patient-friendly: Patients today want easy access to their health information. CDs can be hard for them to use.
7. Cost: CDs are a physical tool, and each CD has a cost associated with it. These costs can add up quickly for larger organizations that process a high volume of requests.

These issues show why your orthopedic center needs better ways to share medical images. Digital tools like ChartRequest offer a solution that fits modern healthcare needs.

Moving Beyond CDs: The Benefits for Your Orthopedic Center

Embracing new solutions to improve your practice can translate into better patient experiences and boost your public image.

Almost 71% of new patients use online reviews when looking for a new doctor. This means patient feedback can make or break your orthopedic center.

Moving away from CDs and embracing digital ROI solutions that are also DICOM-compatible can be pivotal for your healthcare facility.

Here are some of the benefits:

1. Fast image sharing: With digital platforms, medical images can be shared instantly. This avoids the delays that come with burning and sending CDs.
2. Better data safety: Digital solutions offer strong security, like encryption and secure logins. They keep patient data safe from loss or misuse.
3. High-quality images: Digital release of information solutions like ChartRequest can transmit imaging records without diminishing image quality. This means more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
4. Less admin work: Digital sharing cuts down the work of handling CDs and enables staff to focus more on providing an excellent patient experience.
5. Improved patient engagement: Patients can view their images online, which helps them stay involved in their healthcare. It’s also easier for them to share these images with other doctors.
6. Eco-friendly: Digital solutions are better for the environment than CDs because there’s no physical waste.
7. Meets healthcare rules: Modern ROI platforms make it easy to strictly adhere to all relevant healthcare regulations such as HIPAA. This helps reduce legal worries.
8. Scalable and flexible: ChartRequest can grow with your organization’s needs and works well with other healthcare technologies, including your EMR system.
9. Supports telemedicine: Sharing images digitally is key for telemedicine. It helps doctors work together from afar and provide quick care.

Using digital solutions helps your orthopedic center keep up with modern healthcare, making things more efficient, secure, and better for patients.

Can CDs for Medical Images Cause HIPAA Violations?

Maintaining HIPAA compliance is crucial for any healthcare facility. This includes how medical imaging data is handled.

Using CDs to store and share medical images can pose several risks for an orthopedic center. These challenges can range from data security to privacy — two aspects integral to HIPAA compliance.

Below are some of the HIPAA challenges using CDs faces:

1. Risk of loss or theft: CDs can easily get lost, stolen, or damaged. This can potentially expose sensitive patient information. It’s also tough to track who accesses this information, which poses additional risks to patient privacy.
2. No built-in encryption: Unlike digital solutions, CDs typically don’t have the same encryption features to protect the data they hold. ChartRequest, on the other hand, encrypts all data at rest and in transit to meet HIPAA Security Rule requirements.
3. Hard to track access: Keeping a record of who viewed or shared information from a CD is next to impossible. ChartRequest, however, provides a clear audit trail for all patient information.
4. Data integrity issues: CDs can be prone to damage, which can make the images stored inaccessible.
5. Disposal concerns: Securely disposing of CDs with patient information is vital to prevent data breaches. Properly erasing data from CDs to comply with HIPAA can be trickier than simply dragging the files to the recycle bin on your computer.

These issues underscore the importance of adopting more secure, efficient, and HIPAA-compliant digital solutions for managing medical imaging data in orthopedic practices.

ChartRequest: A Modern Solution to Medical Image Sharing

Cutting-edge Release of Information (ROI) solutions like ChartRequest are transforming how orthopedic centers share medical images. They offer a secure shift from the outdated CD era to a digital landscape, streamlining the process of sharing medical images.

ChartRequest addresses the inefficiencies and security risks the use of CDs poses, and upgrading to our digital release of information solution helps your organization enhance operational efficiency while complying with HIPAA.

Here’s how ChartRequest stands out as the #1 release of information solution:

• Rapid image sharing: ChartRequest accelerates the process of sharing imaging records by effectively eliminating the need for the time-consuming burning and distribution of CDs.
• Enhanced security: With strong security measures like encryption and secure logins, ChartRequest guarantees the protection of sensitive patient data. This feature aligns with HIPAA regulations.
• Superior image management: Excels in managing high-resolution images and large data sets. This provides orthopedic specialists with top-quality images for precise diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Administrative efficiency: ChartRequest significantly reduces administrative burdens that lead to burnout and turnover by digitizing image sharing.
• Eco-friendly approach: Transitioning from CDs to digital platforms reduces environmental waste. As an online platform, ChartRequest is supporting sustainable healthcare practices.
• Scalable and flexible: ChartRequest meets healthcare facilities’ growing and changing needs. It can easily adapt to varying volumes of medical images and technological requirements.

ChartRequest adoption helps orthopedic centers overcome CD usage challenges, improve patient care, increase operational efficiency, and meet contemporary healthcare standards.

What Makes ChartRequest HIPAA Compliant?

We’ve mentioned several times that ChartRequest, as the top ROI solution, strictly adheres to HIPAA.

Find out the specific features that allow us to easily and safely navigate the 40-step ROI process.

1. Double QA process: Implements a two-tier quality assurance review for each request and release of information. This minimizes the chances of mistakes or compliance issues.
2. Encryption: ChartRequest uses robust encryption for data at rest and in transit. This ensures that any PHI communicated or stored within the system is protected from unauthorized access.
3. Secure user authentication and access control: The platform implements strong user authentication measures. This includes unique user IDs and passwords that ensure only authorized personnel can access sensitive patient data.
4. Audit trails: ChartRequest maintains detailed logs of all user activities including the access and disclosure of PHI. This feature is critical for tracking usage and ensuring accountability.
5. Regular security updates and patches: ChartRequest consistently updates its system to address any potential security vulnerabilities or compliance updates to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
6. Consent management: ChartRequest incorporates clear privacy policies and authorization management processes. PHI is used and disclosed in accordance with HIPAA regulations and patient consent.
7. Training and awareness: ChartRequest supports HIPAA compliance by routinely training the request and retrieval teams. We ensure our entire team understands the importance of HIPAA regulations and how to use the platform compliantly.

Level Up Your Orthopedic Center with Faster Image Sharing

Switching from CDs to digital platforms in orthopedic centers is a big step forward. CDs used to be common for sharing images, but they have problems like being outdated, slow, not very secure, and bad for the environment.

ChartRequest helps orthopedic centers move past the old CD problems and into today’s world of high-tech medical imaging.

It’s the perfect time for orthopedic centers to go digital if you want to improve imaging process, provide exceptional care for your patients, and stay up-to-date with healthcare technology.

Try ChartRequest and see how it changes the game in sharing medical images.