One of the most important regulations in healthcare is the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Within that are Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) between healthcare organizations and professionals and third-party suppliers, vendors, and non-medical professionals.
Understanding the intricacies of healthcare data and its protection is crucial in today's digital age. Among the most critical concepts in the realm of healthcare compliance is personal health information or anything that is personally identifiable information such as a person's name or phone number. When linked to health data, they can reveal sensitive information about an individual.
The healthcare industry is subject to many types of existing and new cybersecurity threats. With technology constantly developing and information considered to be highly valuable, cyber criminals see this industry as a gold mine of sorts. Crime can also occur internally, with employees playing the part of "bad actor."
In today's increasingly digitized world, the HIPAA Security Rule in healthcare has become vital in safeguarding patient data from unauthorized access or theft. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers and covered entities must establish safeguards that guarantee the confidentiality, accuracy, and accessibility of electronic health information about their patients (ePHI). These standards protect ePHI from physical and virtual threats like malware, hacking, and unauthorized access. In addition to ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations, adhering to the Security Rule can help providers protect their patients' privacy and maintain their trust. Neglecting to comply with these requirements could lead to severe monetary fines and harm a healthcare provider's reputation.
In most organizations, there's an extensive "shadow IT" network, also known as a shadow IT system.
In every mid-size and large organization, there's usually an extensive interconnected network of approved software solutions and systems. In some cases, these software or hardware solutions are proprietary and have been developed exclusively for that organization.
However, since the turn of the century, there has been rapid proliferation of cloud-based software, hardware, apps, and other systems that organizations are now using. Businesses are often spending anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on software, hardware, and IT vendors and IT Service Management (ITSM) partners.
When it comes to Protected Health Information (PHI), healthcare providers and organizations can never be too safe. The repercussions for lost, stolen or manipulated data could cost you large sums of money, a tarnished reputation, and even jail time. According to data shared by HIPAA Journal, there were 347 healthcare data breaches of 500 or more records reported to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022.
We live in a hyper-connected society. Almost everyone we know has a cell phone, tablet, or computer — maybe all and more. These devices are designed to make our day-to-day activities more efficient and enjoyable. While healthcare is rarely an enjoyable experience, there are always means that can be used to make it more comfortable. One of those solutions comes with improved technology that allows patients and providers to communicate and share data with speed and ease. The most common way improved communication occurs between both parties is through personal electronic devices, like smartphones. Although this sounds like a great idea, it has not exactly taken off. This is mainly because HIPAA still applies.
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.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been popular amongst numerous organizations and sectors. 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.
Organizations in the healthcare field will be familiar with HIPAA, formally known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Signed into law in 1996, it sets a national standard for protecting personal health information (PHI). It ensures that patients know how their information is stored and shared through consultation and consent. According to the HIPAA Journal, in the twelve months leading up to October 2021, there were 655 reported data breaches that contained 500 or more records across the country. 546 of the 655 occurred in 2021 alone. There is room for improvement in protecting sensitive PHI, especially when dealing with large databases.
