We discuss why we don’t recommend using the same training year after year (and why our system doesn’t allow it); the trainings we typically recommend for year one and why; the trainings we recommend for year two and after and why; and why now is a particularly good time to get started.
Group Practice Tech Podcast
A podcast where we help mental health group practice owners ethically and effectively leverage tech to improve their practices.
Frequency and Topics
Group Practice Tech will drop episodes about weekly — 4 times per month, to be exact.
Episodes will be everywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on what we’re talking about. We let the topic set the length.
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Your Co-Hosts
Liath Dalton is PCT’s director and a co-owner. Liath is especially passionate about helping therapists be resourced and supported in navigating the security compliance process and identifying the solutions and processes that meet the particular needs of their practices. Liath’s consultation area of expertise is focused on selecting the right combination of services and tech that not only meet the legal-ethical needs of mental health practices, but also the functionality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness needs as well.
Evan Dumas works in the space between mental health therapy and tech support, and is a senior consultant at PCT. His aim is to help workers everywhere cope with the occupational hazards of burnout and compassion fatigue by normalizing that terrible feeling of overwhelm when things go wrong.
With a background in IT, Evan has spent time as the Oregon Counseling Association’s tech chair after PCT’s late founder Roy, while getting his MA in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis and Clark. When he wasn’t helping counselors adapt to technology, he has given talks and workshops on burnout and compassion fatigue all around Oregon.
Apr 4, 2024
Episode 411: Cybersecurity Performance Goals
We discuss the different categories of goals that are outlined; being proactive so your practice is ready when changes come; the essential goals HHS has outlined and what they mean; the encouraged goals HHS has outlined and what they mean; why these goals make sense; and how the PCT Way can help you meet these cybersecurity goals.
Mar 28, 2024
Episode 410: Upcoming HIPAA Security Rule Changes
We discuss what the focus of these rule changes will be; why the changes are happening; steps you can take to be proactive about HIPAA changes; and PCT’s practical tools to help you get on top of things in a manageable way.
we share ways to be proactive in light of the news that random HIPAA audits are returning.
We discuss why there’s still no HIPAA police; the function of these random audits; where the gaps in compliance have been historically; what auditors will likely be looking for; the importance of risk analyses, risk mitigation plans, and policies & procedures; how many HIPAA covered entities were audited the last time the program was active; and PCT’s resources to help you get started with formal compliance in a shame-free way.
We discuss why smart notebooks are popular; how smart notebooks work and why they’re in HIPAA’s scope; risk exposure; device security and hardening; communicating to clinicians that these devices are not HIPAA compatible; ways to support documentation processes that are HIPAA compatible; and what to do if you find out a clinician has been using a smart notebook.
we discuss the recent Change Healthcare cyber attack and its impact for group practices.
We cover what we know and what we don’t know yet; resources to help you take practical steps; how many people are impacted by this breach; the ongoing investigations; ransomware attacks; who is liable for this incident; maintaining operational continuity; and the importance of being proactive in your security practices.