Transitioning into HIPAA security compliance doesn't have to be confusing, time-consuming, or expensive. With a concise overview of the regulations, section-by-section descriptions, charts, graphs, timelines, checklists, and case studies, the Handbook for HIPAA Security Implementation leads you into the core of the HIPAA Security Rule using a systematic, eight-step approach. It also offers guidance in budgeting, assessing the need for external resources, hiring a security officer, organizing your staff, understanding electronic data interchange and electronic medical record systems, and managing your documentation as evidence of compliance. Easy-to-understand explanations of security terms will simplify the jargon and make you feel like a technology insider. And planning and documentation strategies will help you streamline your work with covered and non-covered entities. Most important, the Handbook for HIPAA Security Implementation helps you evaluate the HIPAA security strategy that fits your practice. It can show you how to recognize your strengths and vulnerabilities, identify and protect your assets, and meet the April 2005 compliance deadline. Book jacket.