As a healthcare provider, your primary focus is on keeping people healthy BUT it’s also about protecting patient data. There are millions of medical records hacked every year and the average HIPAA-related data breach costing providers around $717,000, protecting patient privacy is a crucial task. Complying with the HIPAA Security Rule might seem daunting, but it's necessary. Here are four key steps you can take to safeguard patient privacy.

1. Build a Security Culture in Your Organization

The foundation of protecting patient privacy lies not only in technology, but in the people who handle that data. Everyone, from physicians and nurses to office staff and managers, must be fully committed to data security best practices when dealing with protected health information (PHI).

‍Lead by Example:

Management must prioritize compliance to encourage adherence at all levels. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Talk about it and be about it. 

‍Education and Awareness:

‍ Ask questions, provide training, create role playing scenarios. It's not practice what you preach. It is preach what you practice.

‍Emphasize Benefits:

When patients are confident their privacy is being respected, this fosters trust, which in turn contributes to the delivery of better care and optimal health outcomes. Better patient outcomes raise the morale of healthcare professionals and result in a more rewarding work experience.

Creating a culture of compliance and data security starts with everyone being on the same page and recognizing the importance of protecting patient privacy.

Pro Tip: Talk data security around the water cooler. Schedule regular meetings around data security and create a safe space for employees to ask questions and become invested in the safety of their patients. Remind your team that data security has a positive impact on patient outcomes.

2. Perform a Security Risk Assessment

Investing in an external IT security company specializing in PHI regulations is a worthwhile step. A comprehensive security risk assessment will help determine if your organization complies with all rules and regulations, keeping your patients' information safe.

The security assessment will examine:

• Missing or inadequate security procedures and policies
• Weak or repetitive passwords
• Inadequate data encryption and hardware firewalls
• Poor security software
• Compliance of third party vendors

This process will culminate in a detailed report, providing the foundation for creating a robust PHI security improvement product.

3. Create a PHI Security Improvement Plan

Using the recommendations from the security risk assessment, develop a detailed PHI security improvement plan. This plan should include:

• Implementation of suggested changes
• Requests from your IT department
• A list of new and upgraded software/hardware
• Necessary third-party vendors
• Required staff training
• Cost breakdowns
• Timelines for each phase
• Plan to address regulatory changes if/when applicable

Though time-consuming, this planning process will offer a clear roadmap to enhance patient data security and foster a compliant work culture.

4. Encrypt All Patient Data

HIPAA encryption requirements can be confusing, but they are essential. According to the HIPAA Journal, the requirements are "technology neutral," allowing covered entities to select the most appropriate solution for their circumstances.

While HIPAA allows some flexibility, encryption is crucial because it renders data useless to hackers. Not encrypting data can result in severe penalties of up to $50,000 per violation if a breach occurs and compliance requirements are not met.

Move Forward with Protecting Patient Privacy

Validating the security and privacy of patient medical records is your responsibility. Neglecting this duty can lead to loss of patient trust, substantial fines, and greatly diminished patient trust. By following these steps, you'll be protecting not only the health and well-being of your patients but also the integrity of their data.

‍Ready to fortify your data security? Take our free assessment and find solutions to optimize your data security.

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