CTG HealthCare Solutions Continues to Invest in HIPAA Compliance and E-Security Services; Appoints Industry-Recognized Experts Stahlecker and Walsh.Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers CINCINNATI--(BW HealthWire)--April 9, 2002 CTG CTG Cartridge CTG Center for Technology in Government (SUNY, Albany, New York) CTG Center for Technology in Government CTG Computer Task Group (IT consulting company; Buffalo, NY, USA) HealthCare Solutions(TM), Inc. (CTGHS), a leading information technology (IT) consulting firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, continues to invest in its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website, Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when (HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191) Also known as the "Kennedy-Kassebaum Act," this U.S. law protects employees' health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs (Title I) and provides standards for patient health, ) compliance and e-security services with the recent appointments of several industry-recognized leaders as principal consultants. The appointments will enhance CTGHS' ability to support the business and IT needs of both healthcare payers and providers who are experiencing increasing pressures to comply with federal HIPAA mandates. Christine Stahlecker, a 20+-year veteran of the healthcare information management industry, has joined CTGHS' HIPAA Compliance Services practice as a principal consultant. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading CTGHS' HIPAA electronic data interchange See EDI. (application, communications) electronic data interchange - (EDI) The exchange of standardised document forms between computer systems for business use. EDI is part of electronic commerce. (EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) The electronic communication of business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations. Third parties provide EDI services that enable organizations with different equipment to connect. ) and e-commerce strategy with a focus on HIPAA transaction and code set compliance. Most recently, Ms. Stahlecker was HIPAA EDI practice manager for Healthcare Computing Strategies, Inc. (HCS HCS - Heterogeneous Computer System A distributed system project. ), where she was responsible for developing an EDI practice, advising healthcare providers and payers on requirements for HIPAA compliance, and identifying HIPAA and e-commerce best-fit solutions. Prior to HCS, she was manager of electronic commerce/national standards at Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. Association, responsible for helping members comply with the Administrative Simplification provisions of HIPAA. Ms. Stahlecker is a co-founder and current co-chair of the WEDI WEDI Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange Strategic National Implementation Process (SNIP snip a white mark on the muzzle extending into one nostril. ), an industry organization created to determine recommendations for resolution of HIPAA implementation issues. She also recently completed a two-year term as a board member of Health Level 7. Thomas Walsh, a well-known leader in healthcare e-security, has joined CTGHS' E-Security Services practice as a principal consultant. He will be responsible for leading the CTGHS effort in designing and delivering practical security solutions to meet CTGHS' clients' business and regulatory requirements. Additionally, he will have a central role in the development and delivery of tailored information security training courses. Most recently, Mr. Walsh was practice manager of enterprise security at Healthcare Computing Strategies, Inc., where he was responsible for conducting HIPAA readiness assessments and awareness training for HCS clients. Prior to HCS, he was information security manager at Saint Luke's-Shawnee Mission Health System, responsible for creating and implementing an information security policy at eight hospitals and 30 clinics. Mr. Walsh is a former board member of Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS HIMSS Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society ), Heart of America chapter; and former president of the New Mexico chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA (Information Systems Security Association, Bellingham, WA, www.issa.org) A membership organization that promotes effective management practices for computer security. Founded in 1982, ISSA has chapters in more than 20 countries and hosts an annual conference. ). He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a vendor-neutral certification governed by the non-profit International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (commonly known as (ISC)²). (CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) The award for successful completion of an examination in computer security administered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. ) and a certified Safeguards and Security Instructor for the Department of Energy (DOE). Mr. Walsh is a frequent speaker at various national conferences on topics such as HIPAA and information security. He has written several articles and is frequently quoted in healthcare journals and newsletters. In addition to Ms. Stahlecker and Mr. Walsh, Joseph Gillespie has joined CTG HealthCare Solutions. Mr. Gillespie has been appointed senior consultant for CTGHS' HIPAA Compliance Services practice, where he will specialize in HIPAA privacy. He brings 27+ years of experience in health information management to his new role, including extensive expertise in medical records and healthcare administration. He has experience in the planning, design, and implementation of systems for information security and privacy; online data collection; clinical word processing; centralized dictation/transcription; bar code technology; record tracking; and record management. He has served as director of health information management at multiple major healthcare enterprises. "The addition of Christine Stahlecker, Thomas Walsh, and Joseph Gillespie to CTG HealthCare Solutions greatly enhances our ability to extend our HIPAA compliance and e-security services for healthcare providers and payers," said Tom Niehaus, vice president and general manager of CTGHS. "They join our E-Security and HIPAA practices -- led by nationally recognized experts in e-security, M.H. Mac McMillan, and HIPAA and regulatory compliance, John Parmigiani -- to forge an outstanding leadership team. Together, these recognized leaders will help CTG HealthCare Solutions' clients maximize their IT investments and improve business operations while securing the confidentiality and privacy of healthcare information, and achieving regulatory compliance." CTG HealthCare Solutions(TM), Inc. is a leading provider of information technology (IT) consulting services and solutions to healthcare providers in North America. Using its proprietary Intellectual Advantage(TM) storehouse of knowledge and experience and its AssureWare(TM) Web-enabled engagement-management methodology, CTG HealthCare Solutions delivers services that include Application Solutions, Integration Solutions, IT Management Solutions, and Consulting Solutions. CTG HealthCare Solutions is part of CTG (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : CTG), an international information technology solutions and staffing company. More information about CTG HealthCare Solutions is available on the Web at www.ctghs.com. Today's news release is available on the Web at wwwctghs.com or www.ctg.com. |
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