Complying With the Privacy Requirements of HIPAA With recent and widespread efforts to enforce the privacy requirements of HIPAA, many health care providers are struggling to balance privacy with their increasingly-tight budgets. Walls and private rooms are increasingly becoming the norm, yet these improvements still don’t ensure compliance in public areas such as waiting rooms or around nurse stations. For such areas, a Speech Privacy System (often referred to as a sound masking system or white noise system) is the most cost-effective way of meeting the “reasonable means” requirement of HIPAA.
When evaluating Sound Masking or White Noise Systems, there are two main questions you questions you should ask: “What does it sound like?” and “How effective is it?” In reality you’re purchasing privacy, and how much privacy you get is determined by the quality and consistency of the sound a system delivers.The VoiceArrest™ Direct Field sound masking system was originally designed with the high privacy requirements of healthcare providers - and HIPAA - in mind, and provides the most effective, uniform sound masking available.
We understand that trying to compare and decide on a Sound Masking system can be a difficult endeavor. The following information was designed to help you understand the differences between indirect field & Direct Field systems, and what affect they have on the privacy and comfort you receive. While the older indirect field technology can be effective (when considered on an average basis), a more straightforward approach to sound masking can provide much better privacy. By managing a couple variables rather than a dozen, you greatly improve your odds of success in any undertaking.
The information listed over the next few pages provides a basic understanding of Five Essentials of Effective Speech Privacy.
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