Six Tips to Comply with HIPAA

Too many compliance officers, Ho says, are concerned with laws and do not ensure patients are aware of their rights and are part of the decision-making.

"It's about empowering your client base," Ho says.

3. Make patients comfortable. The healthcare experience has to be a holistic approach, Ho says. "You need to make sure patients are comfortable at all levels," he adds. "They have to not only trust their doctors but also the people supporting their doctors."

4. Let people know you're there. Marketing your HIPAA office is key, Ho says. If you're located in the basement next to medical records, get out.

"The HIPAA officer should be in a place where they are easily accessible to patients," Ho says. "And let people know who you are. Put your name out there. Walk the halls. If people know who you are and see you around, it lets them know you're there for them."

5. Buck the trend of training simplification. "People want a one-stop shop for all training, but I believe that is the biggest problem with training today," he says. "The exact same booklet training, or video training, or classroom training shouldn't be given to everyone. People have all different HIPAA concerns and, because of that, you need more focused training."

6. Keep things interesting. "I'm always trying to entertain them," says Ho. "People always like to hear the lascivious details. So I talk about what happened to Britney Spears and … the Octomom [Nadya Suleman] because whenever you talk about money and fame, people get interested."