Healthcare HIPAA Compliance Services
Protect patient data and meet every HIPAA requirement. Petronella Technology Group delivers Security Rule, Privacy Rule, and Breach Notification Rule compliance for medical practices, hospitals, and business associates across the Raleigh-Durham Triangle.
The Three HIPAA Rules
HIPAA compliance involves three interconnected rules that govern how healthcare organizations handle Protected Health Information.
Security Rule + Privacy Rule
- Administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for ePHI
- Patient rights over health information access and amendments
- 54 implementation specifications across 18 standards
Breach Notification + Omnibus
- 60-day notification requirement after breach discovery
- Business associates directly liable under Omnibus Rule
- Penalties from $100 to $50,000 per violation, up to $1.5M/year
How Petronella Helps with HIPAA
End-to-end HIPAA compliance from risk analysis through ongoing monitoring.
Risk Analysis
Comprehensive Security Rule risk analysis identifying threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to ePHI across your organization per 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A).
Policy Development
HIPAA-compliant policies and procedures covering all administrative, physical, and technical safeguards required by the Security Rule.
Technical Controls
Encryption, access controls, audit logging, endpoint protection, and secure communications for ePHI at rest and in transit.
Staff Training
Security awareness training for all workforce members covering PHI handling, phishing prevention, and incident reporting.
BAA Management
Review and development of Business Associate Agreements to ensure vendor HIPAA compliance.
Incident Response
Breach notification support and incident response planning to meet the 60-day notification requirement and minimize impact.
Before and After Petronella
No Risk Analysis
The most common HIPAA violation cited by OCR. Operating without one exposes you to penalties regardless of whether a breach occurs.
Outdated Policies
Generic templates that do not reflect your actual operations, systems, or workforce practices.
Unencrypted ePHI
Patient data on laptops, USB drives, and email without encryption creates immediate breach exposure.
OCR-Ready Documentation
Thorough risk analysis that satisfies HHS requirements and serves as the foundation of your compliance program.
Custom Security Policies
Organization-specific policies covering every Security Rule and Privacy Rule requirement with designated owners.
Encrypted and Protected
ePHI encrypted at rest and in transit with access controls, audit logging, and endpoint protection.
Who We Serve
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PHI and ePHI?
PHI is individually identifiable health information in any form. ePHI is PHI in electronic form. The Security Rule applies specifically to ePHI, while the Privacy Rule covers all forms of PHI.
How often should a HIPAA risk analysis be conducted?
HHS recommends conducting a risk analysis regularly and whenever significant changes occur. Most organizations conduct a comprehensive risk analysis annually.
Does HIPAA require encryption?
Encryption is an "addressable" specification. You must implement it or document why an equivalent alternative is appropriate. OCR expects encryption of ePHI at rest and in transit in most circumstances.
What triggers the Breach Notification Rule?
An impermissible acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of PHI that compromises its security or privacy. Covered entities must notify affected individuals within 60 days of discovery.
How does HIPAA apply to cloud services?
Cloud providers handling ePHI are business associates requiring BAAs and Security Rule compliance. Using a HIPAA-eligible cloud service does not automatically make your deployment compliant.
Can Petronella serve as a HIPAA business associate?
Yes. Petronella signs Business Associate Agreements with healthcare clients and maintains HIPAA-compliant security practices. Our team handles ePHI according to Security Rule safeguards.
Explore HIPAA Services
Protect Your Patients and Your Practice
Schedule a HIPAA risk analysis with Petronella to identify gaps and build a robust compliance program.