PRESS RELEASE: Pacific Medical Centers (PacMed) of = Seattle engages iTM Healthcare (a dedicated healthcare practice of iTech = Management, LLC) to prepare PacMed for an upcoming DITSCAP (DoD = Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation Process) = audit.

iTM Healthcare, a leading provider of HIPAA Security = planning=20 and consulting has taken the lead in hardening the PacMed=20 infrastructure to pass the demanding security rules of the=20 Department of Defense. The DITSCAP requirements are = rightfully=20 referred to as "HIPAA Security on Steroids."

(PRWEB) June 10, 2004 -- Pacific Medical Centers is one = of a=20 handful of healthcare companies around the United States = providing=20 healthcare coverage through the U.S. Family Health Plan = sponsored by=20 the Department of Defense (DoD) for retired military and = their=20 dependents. In response to the increased awareness of = terrorism in=20 the United States, the DoD is requiring all USFHP payers to = pass an=20 extensive physical, administrative, and information systems = audit in=20 order to retain their authority to operate (ATO). This = requires=20 PacMed not just meet but exceed by a huge margin the HIPAA = Security=20 rules effective in 2005--TODAY! iTM Healthcare is ensuring = that all=20 network connections within the enterprise and all = touchpoints with=20 business and trading partners are secure. From servers to = desktops=20 the task entails controlled and hardened images that are = deployed to=20 all computers and user desktops that will prevent = unauthorized=20 access from within and outside the company. Advanced = intrusion=20 detection and alarming for all systems including wireless = systems is=20 required. In meeting this task, iTM Healthcare has brought a = variety=20 of skills to bear: Sr. Network Specialists, Windows 2000 = Server=20 Specialists, PC/LAN Technicians, Active Directory and = Exchange=20 Server Administrators, Documentation Specialists, and HIPAA = Project=20 Managers.

About Pacific Medical Centers: Pacific = Medical=20 Centers offers an integrated, comprehensive network of more = than 110=20 primary and specialty care healthcare providers at six = locations=20 throughout Puget Sound in association with the Virginia = Mason=20 Hospital. Pacific Medical Centers is also a US Family Health = Plan=20 payer for the Dept. of Defense.

About iTM Healtcare: = iTM=20 Healthcare, a dedicated healthcare management consulting = practice=20 within iTech Management, LLC, provides C-level executive = management=20 consulting to payer and provider information technology=20 organizations. iTM Healthcare is a results oriented,=20 been-there/done-that consulting group which hires only = healthcare IT=20 executives with a minimum of 10 years management consulting = AND 10=20 years of healthcare corporate Director/VP/CIO/CTO = experience. iTM=20 Healthcare and iTech Management, LLC deliver results to = their=20 clients, not documents. As a member of the Mentorship Group, = iTech=20 Management, LLC maintains Strategic Alliances with local and = nationally based technology and management consulting firms = such as=20 TripleNet Technologies, Inc. and The Watson Group. =

For more=20 information please contact Wayne Mackert at (425) 891-2128 = or wmackert@itechmanagement.com= .=20 More information is available at http://www.itechmanagement.com./