The NCSC warned that the development of cybercrime marketplaces “lowers the barrier to entry” for criminals who might not otherwise have the technical skills to get involved in this kind of activity. It gave the example of malware-as-a-service which can be bought as a package, “eliminating the need to create and develop the software as well as reducing the knowledge threshold required to operate the malware”.

Whatever the size of your practice or clinic, it’s essential that you take the risk of cyber-attacks seriously. After all, the personal data you hold is highly sensitive which means the ICO expects you to think carefully about your IT security or risk reputational damage and an eye-watering fine.

Measures like installing security software, keeping software up to date with the latest security patches, maintaining IT security policies, encrypting data and staff training will help ensure your systems are secure but what about the companies that process your data? As a data controller, you’re responsible for ensuring that third-party providers’ IT security meets best practice standards.   

We already go to great lengths to protect customers’ data so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands:

• Full end-to-end encryption on all our systems
• Resilient enterprise quality system infrastructure designed to minimise any impact from system failures
• Security by design – we’ve embedded security and data protection into our system and product development process 
• Access to services controlled with an industry-standard authentication and authorisation solution
• Compliance with recognised IT security compliance frameworks – we’ve had ISO 27001 certification since 2009 and we’re signed up to the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme too 
• Resilience testing to identify potential security weaknesses and ensure that our platforms are secure, resilient and up to date
• A staff training programme covering information security and data protection, as well as phishing email tests to check awareness
• Data stored on a secure UK-based computing platform with a daily back-up copy as part of our disaster recovery process
• Products and services that help healthcare organisations share information securely, from the Clearing Service to Secure Messaging and file sharing

No one can be complacent about data security – the NCSC warning shows that new threats are emerging all the time – but you can be confident that we’ll always keep pace with the latest tactics of cyber criminals and be ready to repel them on your behalf.

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We’ve set out our commitment to data security and our Privacy Policy on the website but if you’ve any questions please contact our Customer Services team.

The post We have your back in the cyber arms race appeared first on Healthcode.

Every practitioner knows the importance of continuity of care. Ensuring everyone in the healthcare team has access to relevant information about their patient is the surest way to win their confidence and achieve the best outcome.

We believe continuity of customer care is important too. That’s why we’ve introduced Salesforce, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, that automatically captures each interaction and ensures every query receives a timely and helpful response.    

Much more is planned, but one of the first changes you’ll see is an online tool which you can use to raise and track queries with our Customer Services and Coding teams. The secure online form replaces our existing error log system but of course, you can still call us or email if you prefer. 

You can find the new form on the Contact Us page. Once submitted you’ll get an email with a unique case number so you can follow the progress of your query. Meanwhile, we’ll allocate your case to a member of the team who’ll be happy to help.

We aim to solve customer queries as soon as possible and if appropriate, we can escalate cases to a senior colleague who can instantly see the details and steps already taken to resolve the matter. If you do need to speak to us, you won’t need to repeat anything.

We’ve also been working on some big improvements to our chatbot, Harley. Our intuitive solution uses smarter Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify your requirements based on keywords and then proposes a solution. You’ll also be able to raise a query and check the status of existing queries by using your unique case number.

This is one of many improvements as part of our Transformation Programme that will make it easier for you to connect with us and don’t forget to keep a look out for further announcements.

The post A new way to connect with us appeared first on Healthcode.

Our online solutions are there to make your lives easier – from managing admin tasks like submitting an invoice to obtaining insurer pre-authorisation for treatment.

But we know that accessing our services hasn’t been as quick and user-friendly as we’d like – especially if you have multiple practice sites or represent several practices with their own unique User IDs and passwords.

We’re making several improvements, starting with a simple and more flexible login process. All your products and services under one roof, available from your Healthcode Account. Use your email to log in – rather than entering a lengthy User ID. Being ‘locked out’ from your account – now a thing of the past. 

What do I need to do?

If you haven’t logged in recently, simply follow these steps.

1. Log in with your current User ID and password. If you have more than one User ID, you can use any of these to get started. You shouldn’t share a User ID or use one that’s been passed on to you. Don’t have your own? Request one here.
2. Enter your email address if this isn’t already displayed. The email linked to your Healthcode Account must be unique to you and not one shared with other users. We also don’t recommend using generic business email addresses, such as info@ as this is less secure.
3. Look out for an email with a verification link to confirm your unique email address.
4. Your Healthcode Account is live – use it to access your products and services and change your password.

What if I have more than one account?

With your Healthcode Account, you can link additional User IDs so everything’s in one place.

After you’ve logged in, click the link in the bottom left of the landing page and follow the instructions. Don’t worry – the data on the sites won’t be merged, only your User IDs and passwords. Once you’ve linked the additional User IDs you can’t use them anymore. You’ll now be able to select the account you want to work on from your products and services dashboard.

With your Healthcode Account, you no longer need to use your User ID to access our services. We won’t ask you to change your password every 90 days either. Instead, simply reset it whenever you want from your Healthcode Account, without the need to contact us.

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To learn more about the Healthcode Account see our FAQs in Help and Support. 

If you need further help, contact our Customer Services team.

The post Welcome to your Healthcode Account appeared first on Healthcode.

Healthcode’s reply: If you’re subscribed to ePractice Pro, you can set up recurring clinic sessions for him on the day he’s at that location. This time will be assigned in the diary so you can book patients in with confidence.

Quick guide to setting up recurring sessions

• Select Appointments and then Clinic/Theatre Sessions.
• Click New Session button at the bottom of the page.
• Type in a description of the session and then click the drop-down menu to select the location. If this isn’t listed our Customer Services team can add new locations on request.
• Select the setting and treatment function from the drop-down list.  
• Set the start and end time for the clinic and the duration of appointment slots.
• Select frequency of session – daily, weekly, monthly or yearly – from the drop-down list.
• Choose a start and end date for the sessions e.g. ongoing.
• Click Save and the clinic will be listed as an appointment session.  

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To find out more about the appointment features in ePractice, why not book a demo with our Business Development team.

The post Have you tried… setting up recurring clinic sessions? appeared first on Healthcode.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the site presents us in a completely new light. Our new image and branding are a decisive break with the past and reflect our ambition to help the private healthcare sector find a better way to work.       

But the changes are much more than cosmetic. They mark a shift in the way we engage with and support you all. We’ve got many features which we’re sure will make the experience better for everyone, including:

• A clear design so you can quickly navigate to the right page

We’ve re-organised the site so you can find information at your fingertips. In just a couple of clicks, easily discover relevant solutions to help your business thrive.

• Better help and support

We’ve put all the information you need in one place so it’s quick and easy to get the most from our products and services. With multi-channel support on the way, we’re giving you even more options for getting in touch.

• Jargon-free content

We’ve gone back to basics. All the information on the site is clear and easy to read.

We’re very proud of the new website but we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ll be adding more features and content to support you and to reflect the improvements we’re making as part of our Transformation Programme. Watch this space.  

We also want to ensure this is a valuable resource for you. So even if you only visit www.healthcode.co.uk to log in, we hope you’ll spend some time exploring. Let us know what you think by emailing marketing@healthcode.co.uk.

The post A new era for Healthcode appeared first on Healthcode.

By the time of our twentieth birthday in 2020, we were known for a range of innovative products and services – like The PPR (The Private Practice Register), ePractice, secure file sharing and shortfall collections – that could streamline admin processes, seamlessly connect organisations and provide access to accurate data for informed decision-making.

We’ve always believed that our online technology has the potential to transform the private healthcare sector. However, we also know that Healthcode itself has to change in order to achieve this ambition.

Following a strategic review of the business, we’ve embarked on an ambitious Transformation Programme to ensure that modern business systems and processes are in place to operate efficiently on a bigger scale and be more accessible to our customers.

The bold programme covers five areas of our business:

• Clearing systems – We’re ensuring our core services are secure, reliable and easily accessible from multiple user interfaces.
• Customer operations – We’re both expanding our service capacity as well as giving you more control over your Healthcode account and multi-channel support so you can contact us in the way and time that suits you best.
• Technical infrastructure – We’ve migrated to a gold standard IT infrastructure which is better able to support our technology in terms of reliability, scalability and security; and we’re changing our approach to product development so we can be faster, more responsive and customer-focused.
• Information governance – We’ve adopted a security-by-design approach to everything we do to ensure we maintain the highest data security standards.
• Central functions – We’re strengthening our teams across the business, ensuring they have the skills, resources and leadership to take Healthcode to the next level.

As a customer, we hope you’ve noticed some of the ‘early wins’ we’ve already introduced, such as the expansion of our Customer Service team, the new password reset facility and the Healthcode Academy which provides free 1-2-1 online training to help you get the most from ePractice and The PPR.

We’re also working on a number of other projects, including a more user-friendly way to log in and access your Healthcode products and services from one place and a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to make it easier for you to contact us.

Healthcode has always occupied a unique place at the heart of the sector and our mission is to see it prosper. The scope of this Transformation Programme reflects our commitment to supporting your business and working together to shape the future of private healthcare.

If you have any questions about the Transformation Programme, contact Nicola Kingsmill, Transformation Programme Director.

The post How we’re transforming Healthcode appeared first on Healthcode.

Healthcode’s reply: Our Secure Messaging service enables you to send sensitive health and financial information to contacts in our Global Directory of over 2,500 contacts. Using the same encryption to online banking standards, you can be confident that you are meeting your data protection obligations.

Secure Messaging is available to ePractice Lite and Pro users and in our Financial Management Solution for VEDA users. You can set up your own personal list of contacts from those available, manage your message settings and download document templates for making standard requests from insurers and hospitals.

Quick guide to sending a secure message

• Access the Secure Messaging system via the Messaging tab.
• Click the Compose Message tab.
• Start typing the name in the ‘To’ field to show suggested matches and select recipient from this list.
• You can also search for a contact on the Global Directory by clicking the ‘To’ button to display the select recipient window and enter their name in the search for field. Select one or more recipients from the list of possible recipients, including name, job title, department and organisation.
• Type your message – you have a maximum 2,000 characters – and add up to three attachments of up to 1MB. You can increase this limit by contacting Customer Services on custserv@healthcode.co.uk.
• Click send.
• Use the Manage Settings button to set up automatic notifications to the email address of your choice when you receive a new Secure Message.
• You can use the Insurer Quick Reference for an instant view of Insurer mailboxes.

Discover More

To find out more about the Secure Messaging features in ePractice or VEDA contact our Business Development team.

The post Have you tried… using Secure Messaging? appeared first on Healthcode.

The PPR now has more than 30,000 practitioner profiles which are managed and kept up to date by the practitioners themselves. It provides a central source of accurate information about practitioners offering services in the private healthcare sector which is already benefiting users. For example, practitioners with a PPR profile do not need to update every insurer and hospital they have a relationship with each time their details change, while insurers can now save time by automating verification checks for new practitioners. For peace of mind, data is housed securely in a dedicated data warehouse in the UK and access is via encrypted connections.

All hospitals have free access to The PPR basic service which enables them to search the database and add practitioners to their site who have been granted practising privileges. They can then view basic information from the practitioners’ profiles including name, specialty, regulatory/professional body and details of the practice information at their hospital. To help with clinical governance, they are also able to view profile alerts about GMC warnings, overdue indemnity insurance and overdue appraisals.

In addition, hospitals can subscribe to The PPR standard service which offers more information and features to support their Governance obligations and the CQC’s Well-led key line of enquiry. For example, they can view the full profile of their linked practitioners including their NHS and private practice at all sites, qualifications and medical secretary details. For GMC-registered practitioners they can see the GMC and revalidation statuses, Responsible Officer and Designated Body which are available through Healthcode’s GMC republication licence. They will also receive email notifications about any updates made to a profile.

Hospitals can only correct and update information about a practitioner’s work within their own organisation, such as practice hours and start and end dates of practice. The practitioner is notified when these changes are made.

The next phase of The PPR will build on Healthcode’s pioneering initiative to connect practitioners, insurers and private hospitals in the private healthcare sector using its secure online platform. Work to align The PPR to the recommendations made in the Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework (MPAF) for granting and maintaining hospital practising privileges is ongoing and a GMC-registered practitioner’s Scope of Practice is already available to hospitals detailing procedures undertaken at qualifying sites where invoices list the practitioner as the controlling specialist and have been sent electronically to the insurers.

Fiona Booth, Healthcode’s Head of External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement said: “The wide-scale adoption of The PPR is exciting news for hospitals as they have access to more information and insights to support effective management of their practitioner population, in line with MPAF. In its latest State of Care report, the CQC rated 83% of independent organisations as good or outstanding on the question of leadership and The PPR will be another means of demonstrating to CQC inspectors that a hospital has embedded measures to improve supervision of practising privileges and clinical governance. It is important that the private healthcare sector shows the public that we can put our own house in order.

“We will continue to work closely with our hospital and PPR Data Standards user groups to ensure The PPR provides the insights they need. For example, development is underway to enhance the scope of practice information and add more features to administer practising privileges.” 

The post The PPR enlightens governance for hospitals appeared first on Healthcode.

Healthcode’s friendly customer service team are always happy to help if you have any technical queries and we aim to resolve issues quickly so you can get back to work.

However, to ensure the security of our customers we can only help if the person calling in has the correct ID and contact details. Sharing or ‘inheriting’ someone else’s credentials may seem like a harmless shortcut so you can get on with the task in hand but it could become a cause of frustration if you need to call customer services and your details don’t match those on our system.

At this point, we would have to carry out security checks and set up a new ID so you can carry on using Healthcode’s products and services and of course, we won’t be able to answer your query until this happens.

Help us help you

We want all our customers to benefit from an efficient and responsive service from Healthcode so here is how you can help:

• Tell Healthcode if you are about to move to pastures new so we can update our systems. You can do this by emailing custserv@healthcode.co.uk.
• Make setting up a new Healthcode ID part of the practice handover process. Healthcode do not charge to add a new user. Simply contact our Customer Services team, answer a few simple questions and we’ll generate what’s needed.
• Your Healthcode account holds sensitive data. Follow data protection regulations and never share your ID with others.
• Have your ID and contact details to hand when calling Healthcode customer services or complete our user login request form.
• Try Harley if you need support or information from Healthcode outside office hours. Our helpbot is available 24/7 to answer your queries and can arrange for a member of the team to call if necessary. Additionally, we have live chat available from 8 am until 6 pm Monday to Friday. Simply click on the Harley icon on the bottom right of the Healthcode website to get started.

The post Help Healthcode to help you appeared first on Healthcode.