Ensuring your practice is HIPAA compliant is a vital part of protecting your patients and maintaining your reputation. With regulations constantly evolving, staying up-to-date can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to help make it easy.
Common HIPAA Violations
HIPAA violations can stem from simple mistakes: sharing patient information in unencrypted emails, failing to update software with the latest security patches, or allowing unauthorized access to patient records. Unfortunately, the penalties for non-compliance are steeper than ever, and a single misstep can cost your practice thousands and damage your reputation. To avoid these pitfalls, it’s essential to keep compliance at the forefront of your practice’s operations.
How to Stay HIPAA Compliant
Start with regular audits. Don’t wait to identify the gaps in your systems—allow us to conduct internal audits to identify weak points before they become liabilities. Our IT professionals can implement automated compliance monitoring tools that can detect and alert you to potential vulnerabilities, as well as encrypt all communications and ensure that your staff is trained on best practices (including how to recognize phishing scams that could lead to breaches).
Access control is another critical aspect. Make sure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive patient data. Role-based access, where employees only have access to the information necessary for their job, minimizes the risk of accidental or intentional breaches. And don’t forget about backups! In the event of a breach, having secure, up-to-date backups means you can recover quickly without compromising patient care.
Additional Notes on HIPAA Compliance
Simple data entry like naming files and images used on your website or other storage platforms must remain HIPAA compliant as well. Be sure to review the top 18 PHI identifiers and remove any of these unique identifiers from your file names before uploading.
Benefits of Automated Compliance Tools
Regular audits, encrypted communications, and access control are just the basics. Consider working with our professionals at IT for Scrubs to integrate automated compliance tools that scan for vulnerabilities and remind your staff of best practices. If your IT systems are still in “set it and forget it” mode, it’s time to take a closer look at what can be improved. Keeping your practice HIPAA compliant is easier when you make it a habit!
Talk with one of our healthcare IT professionals today to learn more.
