With Meaningful Use, the ICD-10 transition and other changes to the health care industry as of late, many providers are considering big changes to the way they utilize technology. Major concerns range from adapting to exponentially growing amounts of data as well as the shift toward value-based payment models. Perhaps the greatest driver for change, however, is the need to align revenue cycle management and clinical data, thereby improving the operations of the business.

Welcome to the second half of our brief blog series on the dangers of fake apps and rogue security software. In Part 1, we took a look at fake apps. Among those discussed was the infamous Virus Shield, a fake mobile antivirus app that did not actually do anything. However, those who downloaded the fake app may want to consider themselves lucky that it didn’t. Had it been a rogue security software loaded with a virus (or worse), as we will show in this second installment, their situations could have been far more troublesome. In fact, a 2010 study by Google found that 15% of all malware is downloaded due to rogue or fake antivirus software.

Forgeries, fakes, and counterfeit products have been around for thousands of years. About 2,000 years ago, Roman sculptors were copying preexisting sculptures from the ancient Greeks. Of course, back then, no one really cared that the statues weren’t authentic. They just liked how the sculptures looked and copies were more affordable than the rarer originals. In 1496 Michelangelo, the legendary Renaissance artist (just in case you thought I meant the ninja turtle) was hired by an unscrupulous art dealer to create a fake reproduction of what was supposed to be an “ancient” Cupid statue. The dealer who then sold the work was later caught for selling the fake and was forced to refund the buyer’s money. Luckily for Michelangelo, he was allowed to keep his fee.

The benefits of implementing an electronic health record (EHR) are obvious for medical practices, enabling a streamlined information throughout the office. It's now possible for healthcare organizations to effectively send information through EHRs when and where they want. And there is no more perfect example of this than the use of mobile technology to get data to medical practitioners on the go. Mobile sharing is gaining popularity in medicine as a way to improve patient care without sacrificing efficiency.

Consumers in the technology age are ingrained with convenience and accessing information within seconds. So it’s only natural that those desires would eventually make its way into healthcare, which is where telemedicine has made its mark.

The primary goal of all medical practices is to provide excellent care to patients, but at the end of the day, a practice is a business. Without a solid patient base, practices cannot be financially successful. Specialty practices that offer elective procedures like cosmetic plastic surgery, fillers and botox injections, and Lasik eye surgery, should not only rely on existing patients for business, but always be looking for ways to bring new patients into a practice. One of the most cost effective ways to build a patient base is through word-of-mouth marketing.

With each passing day, technology is becoming a more integral part of the way we conduct our lives, and medical practices are no exception to this rule. Whether it's the emergence of more intricate and user-friendly EHR systems, practice management software, data reports from wearable technology or new patient portal solutions, our practices are more technologically involved than they've ever been before. While all of this technology is aimed at simplifying life, it can actually complicate things a great deal if managed improperly. Take a minute and check out these tips for managing technology in your practice to keep things running smoothly, seamlessly and effectively.

Interoperability. To say it’s a priority for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would be an understatement. As an added effort to encourage interoperability between vendors and providers, the CMS is calling on everyone in the medical community to – for lack of a better word – snitch.