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-Relationship Between Leaders in Healthcare Management and Network Security Creates Single Source for HIPAA Security Compliance for Health Care Entities-
BOSTON and ARLINGTON, Mass. (June 3, 2003) - Beacon Partners, Inc., a leading national provider of health care management and information technology consulting services, and Security Management Partners (SMP), a network security-consulting firm, today announced a partnership to assist health care organizations address the stringent security demands created by HIPAA regulations.
"Beacon and SMP are working together to deliver comprehensive HIPAA security solutions to covered entities," said Ralph Fargnoli, Jr., president and CEO of Beacon Partners. "Our objective is to offer a complete HIPAA security compliance solution - Beacon Partners provides the in-depth understanding of HIPAA regulations and compliance, and SMP provides knowledge of and experience with system and network security. We'll work collaboratively with clients to identify and resolve issues impacting HIPAA security compliance. As a result, clients are provided with the knowledge and tools to move toward compliance with confidence that they have taken reasonable measures to protect confidential information and reduce their organization's risk of a security breach."
"Securing the network is one huge step towards undertaking HIPAA compliance," said Jim Achille, president and CEO of Security Management Partners. "By combining forces with Beacon, our clients receive the benefit of Beacon's domain expertise in healthcare management, particularly as it relates to patient privacy, as well as SMP's comprehensive audits of networks and pragmatic implementation of the necessary network security improvements."
The initial passing of the HIPAA legislation in 1996 began an era of government oversight of health care security and privacy practices, intended to ensure patient confidentiality for all health care related information. The publication of the HIPAA Security Rule in February 2003 represents the next step for health care organizations in the ongoing journey to ensure patient confidentiality. These requirements apply to any entity storing and/or transmitting patient identifiable information on electronic media. These requirements are broken into four broad areas:
- Administrative procedures
- Physical safeguards
- Technical security services
- Technical security mechanisms for secure transmission over a network
Beacon Partners and SMP are positioned to address all areas of the HIPAA security regulations. Fargnoli continued, "Without the benefit of Beacon and SMP, entities that try to comply with HIPAA regulations by simply applying technical solutions will potentially miss 75% of the security requirements and may, in the process, put themselves at risk for the penalties of non-compliance. Beacon and SMP design and implement solutions that deliver HIPAA compliance, while having minimal impact on day-to-day business operations."
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Beacon Partners, Inc. -- a leading national provider of health care management consulting services -- is focused on the delivery and deployment of strategic, technology, HIPAA and operational solutions to health care organizations. Experienced consultants deliver measurable results, sound methodologies and realistic recommendations. Clients who have benefited from its solutions include hospitals, IDNs, MCOs, academic medical centers and physician practices. Information about Beacon Partners and its management consulting services and technical solutions can be found at www.beaconpartners.com.
Founded in 2000 by an elite team of Internet security experts possessing decades of security knowledge, Security Management Partners (SMP) delivers a full suite of product-agnostic information security services. Working with SMP, organizations gain protections from the latest safeguards that ensure their enterprise's security, along with the ability to leverage existing hardware and software investments.
Keeping a network free from cyberterrorism, as well as properly aligned with complex compliance requirements such as HIPAA and Gramm-Leach-Bliley requires a security partner organizations can trust. Security Management Partners delivers a pragmatic approach to security without expensive, heavyweight appliances or hardware vendor-related conflicts of interest. More information can be accessed at www.securitymanagementpartners.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
For Beacon
Charles R. Anastos, Jr.
Beacon Partners
(781) 982-8400 ext. 409
cra@beaconpartners.com
For SMP
Heather Brousell
The Devon Group
(732) 542-2000, ext. 17
news@devonpr.com
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