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Reminder: Our MyChart sweepstakes is on; anyone with a MyChart account is eligible to win $500!

Through Friday, June 28, all registered MyChart for Ballad Health users – both new and existing – will be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card. Ballad Health is drawing a winner each week, so don’t delay – sign up for MyChart today! How to sign up for MyChart You can sign up for MyChart through the Ballad Health app. (NOTE: This is a separate app from the Ballad Teams app.) Download the Ballad Health app by following the instructions matching your device: For iPhone and iPad users: Go to the App Store At the bottom, click Search In the search bar, type “ballad health” Look for the Ballad Health icon Follow the directions to download the Ballad Health app Open the app and select “create account” For Google Android phone and tablet users: Go to Google Play Go to the Apps section In the search bar, type “ballad health” Look for the Ballad…

Update: Minor change coming to password requirements

As we continually keep cybersecurity at the forefront, Ballad Health is changing the password requirements for team members from a minimum of 8 characters in length to a minimum of 10 characters in length. This change ensures that our team members – and by proxy, our patients – are protected from cyberattacks. You do not need to take any action right now, even if your current password is fewer than 10 characters. This change will only apply when your current password expires and you are prompted to make a new one. The new requirements for your Ballad Health team member password are: Must be at least 10 characters in length Must contain at least one uppercase letter Must contain at least one lowercase letter Must contain at least one number Must contain at least one special character (a space counts as a special character) Don’t reuse your other passwords Remember that it is against Ballad…

If you have a MyChart account, you could win $500; sign up for MyChart now, if you haven’t already!

Now through Friday, June 28, all registered MyChart for Ballad Health users – both new and existing – will be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card. Ballad Health will be drawing a winner each week, so don’t delay – sign up for MyChart today! How to sign up for MyChart You can sign up for MyChart through the Ballad Health app. (NOTE: This is a separate app from the Ballad Teams app.) Download the Ballad Health app by following the instructions matching your device: For iPhone and iPad users: Go to the App Store At the bottom, click Search In the search bar, type “ballad health” Look for the Ballad Health icon Follow the directions to download the Ballad Health app Open the app and select “create account” For Google Android phone and tablet users: Go to Google Play Go to the Apps section In the search bar, type “ballad health” Look for…

Check out the new features coming to Hello World, our two-way texting system for patients

Last fall, Ballad Health introduced Hello World, a new two-way texting system for patients that helps them manage their healthcare and saves time for patients and clinics alike. Once patients have opted in to the Hello World notification system, they receive text notifications from Ballad Health and can easily respond to pay bills or to confirm or cancel appointments. It’s been a big success so far, and now we’ve added some new features to Hello World. These updates took effect Wednesday, Feb. 14, and will automatically be available for any patients who have already opted in. New features being offered for Hello World Test results notification – Lets patients who have a MyChart account know as soon as their test results are available. Payment plan sign-up – Users can already pay their bill (in one payment) through Hello World, but as an update to that feature, they will now be able to set it up as…

Cybersecurity tip: Got a suspicious email? Use the Phish Alert Report button in Outlook

Cybersecurity is crucial to protect our health system and our patients, and phishing attacks through email pose one of the biggest risks. What can you do, as a team member, to help prevent phishing attacks? You can correctly use the Phish Alert Report button located in your Outlook email. With just a couple of clicks, you can report potentially dangerous emails to our IT Security team, giving them the information they need to defend against the effects of malicious email attacks. If you haven’t used this button, please make it a regular part of your work routine. Anytime you see a potential phishing email, please report it to our IT Security team! Remember, as a team member, you are the last line of defense for Ballad Health against email-based criminal activity. Never click on a link or open an attachment in any unexpected or unsolicited email; don’t take the bait! Note: These mobile device instructions below apply…

Epic upgrade scheduled for Feb. 14; here’s what you need to know

Ballad Health will be doing an upgrade to our Epic electronic medical records (EMR) system on Wednesday, Feb. 14, starting at 12:01 a.m. Epic users will experience a scheduled Epic downtime of about two hours as the new August 2023 version of Epic is applied. About the downtime Epic will not be completely offline during the downtime window, but will be placed in a “read only” status, so information can’t be entered into Epic during this downtime period. Ballad Health IT will notify users when the downtime period has ended through an IT “All Clear” notification. NOTE: A system build freeze for non-emergent Epic changes will go into effect starting Wednesday, Feb. 7, at noon through Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. About the upgrade Epic upgrades ensure our EMR is current with Epic’s newest version, which keeps our foundation system current on new features and functionalities. This latest upgrade will provide a host of…

Educating on how we use Rover, mobile devices for patient care

Many of our frontline staff, including nurses, clinicians and EVS technicians, make use of mobile devices in their daily workflow. It is an important part of patient care. But there may be times when patients and visitors – or even fellow team members – notice these caregivers using mobile devices (such as smartphones) during work, and they incorrectly assume the team members are using them for personal, unrelated purposes while on the job. For this reason, we will be branding Rover-equipped devices to make them more recognizable, promoting their use, helping team members discuss the devices with patients and letting team members know how to recognize official Ballad Health devices. Our Epic Rover devices Many Ballad Health-owned devices are equipped with Epic Rover, a software that allows team members to perform a variety of functions quickly and conveniently, without ever having to leave patient rooms. These devices facilitate instant reports on patient room availability, bedside…

Upgrade to latest Epic version set for Nov. 15

Ballad Health will undergo an Epic upgrade on Nov. 15 that will include a scheduled downtime as we apply the “Feb/May 2023” version of Epic. Here’s what you need to know as we approach the upgrade: The scheduled downtime will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 12:01 a.m., and will last approximately two hours. Epic will not be completely offline but will be placed in a Level 3 – Downtime “Read Only” status. Information can’t be entered into Epic during this downtime period. IT will notify users when the downtime period has ended through an IT All Clear notification. IT analysts will place a build freeze on non-emergency changes in Epic beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8, through Thursday, Nov. 16. Epic upgrades ensure our electronic medical record is current with Epic’s latest version, which brings new features and functionality. Ballad Health is working to increase our utilization of Epic so we can take full advantage of what the…

Cybersecurity tips: Protect your mobile devices from cyberattacks

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics each week in October. Mobile device use is on the rise and so is the number of cyberattacks. As you may know, Ballad Health uses multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an important tool to protect personal devices from hacking. Hackers are developing more sophisticated malware targeted toward smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Here are 20 tips to help safeguard your device, yourself and others. Wi-Fi Don’t allow your device to auto-join unfamiliar networks. Always turn off Wi-Fi when you aren’t using it or don’t need it. Never send sensitive information over Wi-Fi, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s a secure network. Apps Only use apps available in your device’s official store — NEVER download…

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Beware social engineering attacks

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics each week in October. Social engineering is the art of manipulating people so they give up confidential information – usually passwords, bank information or access to your computer. Criminals use social engineering tactics because it is often easier to exploit our natural inclination to trust than it is to discover ways to hack into software. What does a social engineering attack look like? Social engineering tactics are grounded in the science of human motivation. One of the subsets of social engineering strategies is pretext: using a compelling story or a reasonable-sounding request to target people’s emotions and get them to act without thinking too carefully. Below are examples of pretext that can lay…

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Keeping our patients safe through data protection

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics each week in October. As a health system, we must have adequate levels of protection for the sensitive data we manage to protect both ourselves and the patients we care for. Cyberattacks not only disrupt healthcare providers, they also disrupt patient care. Hypothetically, if a Ballad Health provider was phished and had their credentials stolen, a hacker could use that information to log into Epic and access patient information to sell on the black market. Even more dangerous, a hacker using those credentials could potentially change a patient’s medication or procedure or discharge the patient prematurely. According to a research study published in September 2021 by the Ponemon Institute, approximately 43% of the…

Cybersecurity tip: Consider using a passphrase instead of a password

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics every week in October. Check back here soon for more great information. Passphrases One of the easiest ways to make your accounts more secure is to use a “passphrase” instead of a password. A passphrase is a series of words with spaces between, like “Tuesdays are usually rainy” or “pleasant autumn arbor walk.” Passphrases are much harder to guess and hack than passwords, and they have the added bonus of being much easier to remember. Creating a great passphrase Here are some tips for creating a top passphrase: Longer = more secure. Your Ballad Health passphrase must be at least 8 characters, but 10-16 is better, and you can go even longer than…