- Passwords: your practice will have many different passwords to different network components. Make sure you have them all documented and know who else knows the passwords. Your server(s) will have an administrator password, PC's will have an administrator password, firewall/router for the internet, and website (ftp) amongst others.
- Anti-Virus: make sure all servers, PC's, laptops, TabletPC's, home PC's if connecting remotely - all have anti-virus software. Understand when it was installed, when it expires, how often the are updated (daily/weekly), and if they update through the server or straight from the internet.
- Server: medical office managers need to understand some basics about your server such as - what are the specs of the server (RAM, Memory, etc), is it still under warranty, what applications run on the server, and is it physically in a clean/well ventilated area.
- Backups: know what your backup routine is for server/PC data, how often they run (server should be daily), how are you ensuring some level of remote storage for your data either through remote online backups or taking a tape offsite, who is responsible for this action and how to periodically verify.
- Wireless: as EMR continues to rollout the need for a secure wireless network is critical. Be sure your wireless network components are installed correctly with the latest encryption (like WEP) and the wireless router is periodically has a health check and updated as needed. If you are offering WiFi to guests/patients - strongly consider segmenting the network into two in order to protect your critical files from malicous browsing.
Obviously there is much more to the daily Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) and the medical networks get more complex with the size of the practice, but these are some pillars of the electronic world that need to be understood.
With any questions, feel free to contact us support@supportnetinc.net
