Think HIPAA Compliance Ends with Your EHR? Protect Your Patients and Practice the Right Way.
Many medical practices mistakenly believe having an EHR means full HIPAA compliance. HIPAA compliance actually requires administrative safeguards, physical safeguards, technical safeguards, risk assessments, employee training, breach notification, and secure patient communications. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or a large practice, HIPAA rules apply to you and protecting patient data is non-negotiable.
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How an Experienced HIPAA Compliance Lawyer Can Safeguard Your Practice
This DataShield​ HIPAA Compliance System is for you if:
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You know you’re a covered entity under HIPAA because you provide medical services—and that responsibility weighs on you.
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You work with contractors or vendors who might access patient information, and you worry about whether they’re truly protected.
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You have a Notice of Privacy Practices and an EHR—but that’s where your compliance efforts end, leaving huge gaps you don’t even know about.
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Terms like “emergency preparedness plan” feel like another language, and you’re overwhelmed just thinking about what you might be missing.
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The thought of an audit makes your heart race because you fear costly fines that could cripple your practice.
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You’re done piecing together forms from Google searches and want a custom, thorough HIPAA compliance system designed for your unique practice.
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Hi, I'm Angie.
ATLANTA HIPAA COMPLIANCE LAWYER
UCLA Law graduate licensed in all Georgia state and federal courts
8+ years of civil litigation experience
I've saved my clients over $500K by voiding poorly drafted contracts
I've reviewed over 1,200 contracts in the last 2 years
Would Your HIPAA Compliance Policy Survive an Audit? The #1 Problem I See Is No Policy at All.
Stop stressing over missed disclosures, patient disputes, or revenue loss. I’ll help you create clear, compliant HIPAA forms that safeguard your practice and build patient trust.
Most healthcare practices begin with good intentions—focused on patient care, not legal paperwork. For many solo practitioners, that means wearing multiple hats, including Chief Privacy Officer, relying on an EHR system and hoping that’s enough. But is it?
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What happens if your EHR suffers a data breach? When was the last time you audited your technical infrastructure for vulnerabilities? How does your work-from-home policy for your part-time medical assistant or your third-party billing company affect your exposure to HIPAA violations?
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The reality is, a complete HIPAA compliance policy doesn’t just start and stop with an EHR—it answers these critical questions and many more.
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I often see practices that assume their privacy safeguards are sufficient—only to scramble after a breach or an audit exposes costly gaps. Relying on generic policies or outdated forms leaves you vulnerable to hefty fines, patient distrust, and operational headaches.
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That’s why a tailored, comprehensive HIPAA compliance system is essential. It addresses your unique risks—covering administrative, technical, and physical safeguards; workforce training; breach response plans; and vendor management.
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As an experienced Atlanta healthcare compliance lawyer, I help you build this system from the ground up—so you can protect your patients, your practice, and your peace of mind.
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If you’re unsure where your HIPAA compliance stands, start with a discovery call. In just 30 minutes, we’ll identify your gaps and provide clear, actionable steps to close them.
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Don’t wait for a breach or audit to expose your vulnerabilities. Get a compliance system built for your practice—because patient care deserves nothing less.
Who Does HIPAA Apply To?
Medical Practice Owners and Healthcare Providers: Are You Covered?
HIPAA applies to any entity that handles protected health information (PHI), including:
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Healthcare providers (e.g., physicians, dentists, therapists) who electronically transmit any health information.
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Health plans (e.g., insurance companies, HMOs).
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Healthcare clearinghouses that process health data.
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Business associates who handle PHI on behalf of covered entities (e.g., medical billing services, IT vendors).
If your medical practice involves any electronic transmission of patient information, HIPAA compliance is mandatory. This includes electronic health records (EHRs), patient appointment scheduling, and even email communications containing patient data.
The Four-Tier HIPAA Violation Rubric: What You Need to Know
Understanding HIPAA Violations and Their Consequences
HIPAA violations can be costly, and penalties vary based on the severity of the violation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) uses a four-tier violation rubric to determine the extent of the violation and the corresponding penalty. The 2024 tiers are as follows:
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Tier 1 – Unknowing violations: Occurs when an individual or entity is unaware of the violation despite exercising reasonable care.
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Penalty: $141 to $71,162 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $2.1 million.
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Tier 2 – Reasonable cause violations: Occurs when a violation is due to reasonable cause, but not willful neglect.
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Penalty: $1,424 to $71,162 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $2.1 million.
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Tier 3 – Willful neglect – corrected: When a violation occurs due to willful neglect, but it is corrected within 30 days.
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Penalty: $14,232 to $71,162 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $2.1 million.
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Tier 4 – Willful neglect – not corrected: When a violation occurs due to willful neglect and is not corrected within 30 days.
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Penalty: $71,162 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $2.1 million.
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Recent High-Profile HIPAA Violations and Fines
In recent years, several healthcare organizations have faced millions of dollars in fines for HIPAA violations. For example:
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In 2024, a healthcare provider, Solara Medical Supplies, settled for $3 million for improper handling of patient data, including failure to secure electronic health records.
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A 2024, Montefiore Medical Center agreed to a $4.75 million settlement for failure to conduct comprehensive risk analyses, regularly monitor information system activity, and failure to implement procedural mechanisms that record and examine activity and information in electronic records systems.
These cases illustrate the serious consequences of non-compliance. Protect your Georgia medical practice by ensuring all your systems and policies are fully compliant with HIPAA requirements.
References for More Information
Protect your practice with expertly crafted, fully compliant consent forms that stay ahead of evolving regulations and patient expectations—giving you peace of mind and stronger safeguards.
FOR GEORGIA MEDICAL PRACTICE OWNERS WHO WANT A HIPAA COMPLIANCE SYSTEM
DataShield​: HIPAA Compliance Suite
$5,000
One Time. Flat Fee
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Best for:
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You’re worried your HIPAA policy is outdated or worse, you don’t have one at all. If the thought of an audit, data breach, or costly fines keeps you up at night, this suite is designed to get you fully compliant fast. You’ll receive a custom HIPAA policy, a clear emergency preparedness plan, and checklists covering all seven critical federal requirements, so nothing slips through the cracks.
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What's Included:​​
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✅Policies & Procedures – Custom Code of Conduct and operational policies
✅Compliance Leadership – Defined roles for compliance + privacy officer
✅Training & Education – Staff training plan, informed consent templates, and acknowledgment forms
✅Effective Communication – Duty-to-report workflow + non-retaliation policy
✅Enforcing Standards – Consequences and corrective action procedures
✅Auditing & Monitoring – Internal audit templates + documentation tracking
✅Response & Development – Breach investigation process + follow-up plan
✅Risk analysis explaining your top risks in order of priority and recommendations to fix them -
Timeline: Full setup in 2–3 weeks, including policy customization and explainer videos for leadership and staff.
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Why it matters: HIPAA penalties can exceed $50,000 per violation. Proactive compliance is faster, cheaper, and safer than remediation after an incident.
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Get a custom, compliant HIPAA system in just 2 weeks. It only takes a few clicks to get started—protect your practice from fines and penalties today.
​Get Expert HIPAA Compliance Help in Atlanta, Georgia
How is this HIPAA Compliance System different from the free 5-page template I got with my EHR?
Most free templates barely scratch the surface. Our system is a comprehensive, 7-part compliance protocol that covers every federal HIPAA requirement plus relevant state privacy laws. It’s a 75+ page living document designed to evolve as your practice grows and changes—unlike one-size-fits-none generic forms, this is tailored to your real-world operations.
Can I just DIY my HIPAA policy?
Technically, yes—but only if you have 50+ hours to research every regulation, draft, and regularly update your own policy. Your time is better spent on patient care. More importantly, HIPAA applies to everyone—from solo practitioners to small groups—and having a written, actively followed policy is key to building a true culture of compliance.
I have more questions.
We're happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please schedule a time to talk to our intake coordinator, Lea Rosby here. Or, if you have legal questions, schedule a time to talk with Angie here. Clients that retain Edmonds Law within 7 calendar days of a paid session with Angie, will have consultation fees deducted from their flat fee investment.
How do I get started?
It’s easy: just three clicks to sign engagement, pay a flat fee, and upload your current HIPAA materials (if any). Then, complete a quick 10-minute intake form. Behind the scenes, we begin crafting your custom compliance system. Within two weeks, you’ll receive a tailored HIPAA program ready for your practice.
Not sure yet? Book a discovery call first to get your questions answered with no pressure.
Are there financing options available?
Yes, qualified clients can apply for attorney fee financing through Affirm Client Credit. You can learn more about financing here. You can apply for financing here. Edmonds Law will only receive notification of your payment if you are approved for financing. Edmonds Law does not receive your application or credit details, and we cannot control who receives financing. Affirm is the only payment plan option that we offer.
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How-to move forward with financing:
Step 1: Apply here for financing. Select "pay later" option. Once approved, proceed to step 2.
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Step 2: Sign engagement letter here.
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Step 3: Select "financing" at checkout.