Drugs destroy lives. America is in the middle of a drug addiction epidemic. Over 1 million people have died from overdoses in 20 years, since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started recording overdose deaths in 1999.
Rising data breaches in healthcare have paved the way for compliance laws to keep patients' medical data secure. Thousands of healthcare providers in the US are now legally required to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As a result, they need to use HIPAA-compliant technologies when corresponding with clients and patients online.
In industries across the spectrum, cloud computing is far outpacing physical storage infrastructure. It may provide you a sense of security knowing your data is physically on-site, however, these systems often take up valuable space, are easily compromised (including physical theft), and cost a fortune to maintain. The cloud is a "new" technology that provides an efficient working model that is secure for any industry, especially those that house sensitive data like governments, financial institutions, and healthcare.
More people than ever before are seeking treatment for mental health conditions.
One of the ways patients are doing this is through mental health apps. Some of the most popular on the market include Calm, Headspace, and Talkspace Online Therapy. Other apps are focusing on specific problems, such as Quit That! to help people break unhealthy habits and addictions.
eMoods is designed to help those with bipolar disorder track their moods. notOK is an app designed to prevent suicide.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) were already popular amongst numerous organizations and sectors before the pandemic. Now, with remote and hybrid work so widespread, companies need to be even more conscious of the way they allow employees and contractors to access files and internal systems. You may ask "Do VPN's really work?" Continue reading to find out.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has driven the healthcare industry through several simultaneous changes and challenges. Record patient levels, hospital staff shortages, remote work, and HIPAA exemptions have all made appearances at one point or another. Healthcare organization CEOs and other management figures have dealt with many of these situations on the fly, without much warning. As we progress through 2022 and beyond, what should the industry expect from a change perspective? Continue reading to find out how you can stay ahead of the curve!
With advancements in technology, individuals can now be more involved in their healthcare than ever before. Whether it is pulling results, requesting appointments, or transferring records, the way healthcare data is stored and shared has changed. This practice, often referred to as a right of access, allows for on-demand, and real-time access to personal health information (PHI) on the part of a patient, once requested and received.
In April 2021, Colonial Pipeline, representing critical regional gas supply and fuel infrastructure, was severely disrupted by a ransomware attack. The company's billing and business infrastructure were targeted, resulting in a $4.4 million dollar ransom payment in bitcoin. The ripple effects of the attack caused panic buying and gas shortages in many states along the East Coast of the United States, not to mention dangerous chaos among residents. This all may have been avoided if the firm had adequate or stronger cybersecurity measures in place. This example, among many others, serves as a reminder that no one organization or person is safe from a potential cyber-attack. Oftentimes the best defense is being well-prepared for the inevitable.
Nowadays, more than ever before, we are reminded to stay on top of our hygiene. Whether it is frequently washing our hands, sanitizing work stations, or keeping our distance from others, regular practice is key to preventing illness.
As we develop routines to keep ourselves physically clean, it is important to ensure that we also do not neglect the regular protocols that our technology demands. From computers to mobile phones and everything in-between, in 2021 there were approximately 11.3 billion connected devices worldwide. This number is forecast to grow to 27.1 billion by 2025. These very devices are often home to our most sensitive data. Keeping these items safe from hackers, viruses, and malfunctions requires regular upkeep. With this in mind, we have a few important considerations for building out a new or stronger "immune" system for your cybersecurity hygiene plan.
Sometimes, information not intended to be public knowledge is inadvertently shared with others. Just as easily as it can happen in a casual conversation with a friend, it can also happen in the workplace. So, what is an incidental disclosure? The incidental disclosure definition, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a, "disclosure that cannot reasonably be prevented, is limited in nature, and that occurs as a result of another use or disclosure that is permitted by the Rule." What happens when there is an incidental disclosure in a healthcare setting? There is not a clear-cut answer. It simply depends on the magnitude of the situation. In general, healthcare settings are fluid environments. That means that a patient overhearing another patient's diagnosis or a visitor catching a glimpse of a screen with some personal health information (PHI) is not common grounds to facilitate a HIPAA violation.
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