Systems Admin @ Retirement/Assisted Living Facility

Anyone ever worked at a Retirement & Assisted Living company? I applied for a Systems Administrator job at one, I'm wondering if there is some special compliance rules I need to read up on or anything I know some about HIPAA but very little, It's not like we have a ton of PHI around here.

Also if you were hiring someone would you care more about their title or what they actually did at there previous job? My title is stupid (government are big on making up titles) but, my work has essentially been that of a Systems administrator (even though we have one). I did make sure to use Key/Important people as my reference hoping that would give me a better shot. I used the Chief of Police, PD Secretary who is an IT/PD Liaison, and the County Administrator. All whom said they would give me great reviews. Here's to hoping.

Robin5170

I do occasional work with a chain of 3 nursing homes and am trying to win a contract with a nationwide chain with over 100 homes at the moment. The first hasn't been too thorough with regards to personal background checks however I believe the larger chain may ask for a background check for anyone who may be on-site at any of the homes. Not sure if that's what you were after?

depends on the structure of the assisted living. some have nursing staff where a good bit of phi is involved, some are literally assisted living, with just staff that assist when needed. HIPAA is something especially in the IT world

Nic

One clever idea you can bring up at the interview is a keypad to get out of the building. The catch is you have to put in the current year. Anyone who has dementia will be punching in 1945 or whatever

DenisKelley

I consulted and worked with a 3 location ALF for about 10 years. They had their own HIPAA person so I didn't have to directly deal with that thank God.

This Retirement center is one location with a lot of buildings. Pretty much like a college campus there. It's more of a richy retirement and assisted living facility.
It has a big probally 12-17 story assisted living part which is almost the same as a hospital, they do everything expect surgery but the rooms are much nicer. You have to have pin numbers or RFID badges to get in (family gets them, friends have to be buzzed in).

There's also a retirement center for people who need less card, mainly just watching them and giving them medicine.

There's also a large community of assisted living town homes which are part of this.

As well as it's own pharmacy, fishing area, duck pound. probably a few other buildings that I don't know about but it's not your average small thing.

Edit: there website says there are 6 different assisted living facilities (with varying types of care) on campus plus the independent living town homes.

Dashrender

I would guess a facility like that would have several different networks, some connected, most absolutely not connected. Perhaps even more than one connection to the internet.

Medical wise, if they are maintaining medical records (and how can they not if they do everything short of surgery) you definitely have HIPAA compliance to deal with. Who knows, you probably have PCI as well.

scottalanmiller

HIPAA no question. PCI is say is unlikely.

I think most health care stuff goes with managed billing/payment services anymore so they don't have to deal with it.

I would hope the buildings are all connected by fiber but who knows.

Reid Cooper

Any facility like that that I know always had financial stuff handled externally.