Technology improves privacy in medical office
By Steve Moyer
Nevada Daily Mail
Dr. Scott Beard has a new office, located at 625 S. Ash, the same building Dr. Warren Lovinger is in, for his gynecological practice.
One of the features in his new office is the way he stores his medical records. He has gone high-tech with all electronic records. In addition to heavy security to protect the privacy of his patients, the new storage method helps him by cross checking a patient's new medications with previously prescribed ones to help prevent problems.
The program is compliant with HIPAA regulations that require stringent protections for patients.
"It's a big headache right now but it's really to alleviate privacy fears down the road," Beard said. "It's the direction the visionaries are taking us."
Beard said he's had a lot of help in setting up the office. "The entire medical community of Nevada has been very supportive during this transition time, particularly Nevada Medical Clinic," Beard said.
Born in Kansas City, Beard is a 1992 graduate of Northwestern University and a 1996 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine - Columbia, Mo. Beard took post-doctoral training at St. Luke's Hospital and Truman Medical Center and his OB/GYN Residency at University of Missouri -K.C.
Beard became board certified by the American Board of OB/GYN November 2002. This was the earliest possible date for this accomplishment. Beard is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Beard said most of his practice is composed of routine annual exams, referrals for abnormal pap smears, fallen bladder and heavy or painful periods.
"I stopped doing the OB side about a year and a half ago. My insurance is $30,000 a year but if I continued to do OB it would be $85,000," Beard said. "That would take 110 deliveries just to pay for the additional cost and overhead. Missouri is one of the top 12 states on the crisis list because of the high cost of insurance."