Managed IT for medical practices
Managed IT for medical practices
Helpdesk, security and HIPAA Security Rule safeguards for medical groups, specialty and dental practices, surgery centers and clinics in Southern California.
The short answer
WCC provides managed IT for medical practices: helpdesk, monitoring, security and network management built around the HIPAA Security Rule. We sign a business associate agreement, help you complete your security risk assessment, and install the cabling, Wi-Fi, cameras and access control in your clinics.
HIPAA safeguards
What the HIPAA Security Rule asks of your IT
| Requirement | What it means | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Risk analysis | Find and document risks to ePHI | Annual security risk assessment with a written remediation plan |
| Access control | Only the right people see patient data | Unique logins, role-based access, MFA and automatic logoff |
| Audit controls | Record who accessed what | Logging on EHR, email and file systems |
| Transmission security | Protect ePHI in transit | Encrypted email, VPN and secure Wi-Fi |
| Contingency plan | Recover from outages and ransomware | Tested backup and a documented recovery plan |
Source: HHS HIPAA Security Rule.
Services
What managed IT for medical practices covers
Helpdesk and monitoring
Support for front desk, clinical and billing staff, plus monitoring and patching for every device.
Security
Endpoint detection, encrypted email, MFA and 24/7 security monitoring on higher tiers. Cybersecurity
Backup and recovery
Encrypted, tested backup so a ransomware attack or failed server doesn't stop patient care.
Medical device networks
Separate network segments for imaging, monitors and other connected devices.
Exam room Wi-Fi and cabling
Reliable Wi-Fi and cabling for workstations on wheels, tablets and imaging. Network cabling
Cameras and access control
Secure medication rooms, records areas and entrances. Access control
Who we serve
Practices we support
Medical groups and specialists
Primary care, specialty and multi-location groups with shared EHR and billing systems.
Fully managed or co-managed
Surgery and imaging centers
Higher uptime needs, imaging networks and connected medical devices.
Advanced tier common
Dental and behavioral health
Dental imaging and practice systems, plus 42 CFR Part 2 controls for substance use treatment.
Tailored controls
FAQ
Managed IT for medical practices questions
What does managed IT for a medical practice include?
Helpdesk for staff and providers, monitoring and patching, endpoint security, encrypted email, backup, network and Wi-Fi management, and the technical safeguards the HIPAA Security Rule requires. Higher tiers add 24/7 security monitoring, vCISO time and help with your security risk assessment.
Will WCC sign a business associate agreement?
Yes. Any IT provider that can access electronic protected health information (ePHI) is a business associate under HIPAA, so we sign a BAA before we start. We can also help you track BAAs with your other vendors.
Does managed IT make us HIPAA compliant?
It covers the technical side: encryption, access controls, audit logs, MFA, backup and monitoring. HIPAA also requires policies, staff training and an annual security risk assessment, which we help you complete and document. Your practice stays responsible for compliance overall.
Do you support our EHR?
We support the infrastructure around it, such as the network, workstations, identity, security and backup, for EHRs like athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, NextGen, Epic-connected clinics and dental systems such as Dentrix and Open Dental. Application setup and support stays with the EHR vendor.
How much does managed IT cost for a medical practice?
Most practices pay $150 to $300 per user per month, because HIPAA needs stronger security tools and documentation than a typical office. A 15-person practice usually pays about $2,250 to $4,500 a month. See managed IT cost per user.
Can you support multi-location practices?
Yes. We manage networks, firewalls, Wi-Fi and security across multiple clinics under one agreement, with consistent access controls at every location.
What about behavioral health and substance use treatment?
Substance use disorder treatment records also fall under 42 CFR Part 2, which adds confidentiality rules on top of HIPAA. We set up tighter access controls and logging for those records.
Related
Related guides and services
Get a recommendation
Get a managed IT quote for your practice
Tell us about your practice, locations and EHR. We'll review your HIPAA safeguards and send a fixed monthly price.