Zippie IT provides IT support, cybersecurity, backup and HIPAA guidance for psychiatry offices in Meridian and across the Treasure Valley, Idaho. We help you protect some of the most sensitive records a practice holds, and we keep scheduling, notes and billing running too.
Why psychiatry offices handle IT differently
Patients tell you things they tell almost no one else, and your systems hold those records. As a result, a mistake with access, a lost laptop or a breach does more harm here than in most practices. At the same time, your office still depends on its systems every day for scheduling, notes, prescribing and billing. An outage disrupts appointments for people who may not be able to wait.
What we look after in a psychiatry practice
- Managed IT services: help desk support, monitoring and patching, plus hardware, server and software support, for a flat monthly rate.
- Cybersecurity: protection around your devices, network, email and data, with support available 24/7.
- Access that matches each role: separate sign-ins for each person and access that ends the day someone leaves. You also get a clear view of who can reach patient records.
- Backup and disaster recovery: scheduled backups and a recovery plan, so an incident does not have to stop your practice.
- Network and Wi-Fi review: a free look at how you have set up your network. We also check that patient Wi-Fi stays separate from the network that holds records.
Records that carry extra rules
Some mental health records need stricter handling than the rest of the chart. Under HIPAA, psychotherapy notes, as the rule defines them, generally stay separate and need a specific authorization before anyone shares them. Ordinary treatment records, however, follow the usual rules. Substance use disorder treatment records can fall under a separate federal rule, 42 CFR Part 2, which sets its own consent requirements. Which of these applies to you depends on your practice, and some practices keep all notes in the general record.
These are legal questions, so we do not provide legal advice. Your attorney or compliance adviser decides what applies. Our part is the technology: where you store records, who can reach them, how you protect and back them up, and whether your systems can support the decisions you make. Our Compliance Consulting service helps you prepare, and we can sign a business associate agreement where one is required.
Prescribing and telehealth
If your practice prescribes controlled substances electronically, DEA rules require two-factor authentication to sign those prescriptions. If you see patients by video, you rely on a stable connection, secure accounts and a private network. We can help you set up and support the computers, accounts and connections behind both. Tell us which prescribing and video tools you use, and we will confirm what we can support.
IT support for psychiatry offices, with remote help elsewhere
In the Treasure Valley, including Meridian, Boise, Nampa, Eagle and Caldwell, we can come to your office for hands-on work. For practices in other locations, we provide remote support. We can also arrange for a local technician to give on-site assistance, or send one of our own technicians to you. During business hours, a technician reviews each request within 1 hour. Our regular hours are Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 6:00pm, and emergency support is available 24/7.
Start with a free review
Not sure where your practice stands? Our free security review looks at who can get into your systems and how you protect accounts and passwords. It also covers whether your software stays up to date, your backups, and the security of your network and Wi-Fi. You get a written report and a call to go over it. This typically happens within 24 hours once you give us access to the systems and accounts we need to review. There is no obligation to hire us.
Request your free reviewor call (208) 810-1795
Frequently asked questions
Do you sign a business associate agreement?
We can also sign a business associate agreement where the rules call for one.
Does HIPAA treat therapy notes differently?
Psychotherapy notes, as HIPAA defines them, generally need a specific authorization before anyone shares them, and practices keep them apart from the rest of the record. However, many practices keep their notes in the general record instead. Your attorney or compliance adviser should decide how this applies to you. We help with the systems, access and backups that support that decision.
Can you help with the security our prescribing and video tools require?
We can help set up and support the computers, accounts and connections behind them. For example, if you prescribe controlled substances electronically, DEA rules require two-factor authentication to sign those prescriptions. Tell us what you use and we will confirm how we can help.
How much does IT support for a practice cost?
We offer our managed IT services at a flat monthly rate, set per user or per device, depending on how you set up your practice. Call (208) 810-1795 for a quote.
Other healthcare practices
See IT and compliance for healthcare practices, IT support for dental offices, IT support for chiropractic offices, IT support for counseling practices, IT support for eye care practices or IT support for physical therapy clinics.
Talk to us
Contact us for a free consultation. Call (208) 810-1795 or email info@zippieit.com, or send a message below.