Online or In Office Data Storage?

[ChiroJPo]

In a couple of years, I will be starting my own clinic. i would like a paperless office. Therefore I will need plenty of storage for my patient's files, etc. I am not sure which business software I will be using, therefore I cannot estimate how much space each patient's file will take. I would like to be able to back up my data every day. I was not sure whether storing the files in the office or online would be a better choice. If you know any online storage sites, please let me know. If you think that storing the files in the office would be easier, please direct me in the best way to do it. Thank you.

Price is not really an option, I would like an easy way to back up the data, for it to be safe, and an easy way retrieving the files (if computer melts down).

Any other information needed?

[mairving]

If these are medical records HIPAA requires at least a copy of the medical record to be stored no less than 5 miles away from your place of business. I am pretty sure that storing them at your home isn't allowed either. Online isn't really a great option since you would have to have a pretty big pipe to load files. You would also have to worry about security and would pay a premium. The best would be to get a tape drive and regularly backup the files. With that you could also get a safety deposit box at a bank to store the tapes offsite on a say weekly basis.

[kilgoretrout]

It would really depend on what you're underlying system is. If you want to set this up right, hire some competent professionals. They're are just too many variables to give meaningful advice on a forum. You are dealing with a situation where the data may have life and death consequences and there is heavy federal regulation re privacy of patient's records. The security and integrity of the data is of highest importance here.

One thing I can tell you to stay away from is service companies that lock you into their service. I've heard horror stories of doctors using these outside services for patient records and billing only to find the service fees escalating to insane levels with the patient records being held hostage. Never put yourself and your patients in that position.

[ChiroJPo]

Thanks for the replies. I will look into a tape drive back up system.