How to Stay HIPAA Compliant with Smart Cybersecurity Strategies

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Navigating the complexities of HIPAA-regulated industries is no small feat, particularly when it comes to HIPAA compliance. Protecting client info, staying up-to-date with regulation changes, and implementing cybersecurity measures, all while caring for patients and ensuring operational efficiency can be overwhelming.

Here is what you need to know about HIPAA compliance solutions. We’ll walk you through HIPAA, what it is, why it matters, and how you can keep your practice compliant.

What Is HIPAA?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It aims to protect certain patient information, referred to as protected health information (PHI), regardless of whether it is electronic, written, or oral.

All healthcare entities need to be aware of HIPAA and its regulations to determine which rules apply to them, but the US Department of Health and Human Services outlines the general requirements of HIPAA:

• Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI that is created, transmitted, received, or stored.
• Identify common threats that compromise data and implement protection against them.
• Preventing unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of PHI.
• Training workforce members to promote compliance with HIPAA requirements.

Failure to comply with HIPPA results in severe consequences, ranging from $100 fines for accidental violations to $50,000 fines (or greater) and a minimum of 1 year in jail for more extreme, intentional violations. A lack of HIPAA compliance solutions can also create a bad reputation for businesses, and patients are likely to lose trust and take their business elsewhere.

Healthcare and Cybersecurity Challenges

Comprehensive cybersecurity is paramount in the healthcare industry because hospitals, clinics, and private practices all hold incredibly sensitive and valuable data, such as full names, birthdates, social security numbers, health history records, banking information, etc., all of which cybercriminals can use maliciously.

Because of this, attacks on the healthcare industry are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, with tactics like malware, ransomware, and supply chain attacks. 

Despite these high risks, many healthcare facilities still use outdated software and hardware, which can lead to vulnerabilities and malfunctions. Internal attacks (both intentional and unintentional) are also difficult to prevent because perpetrators are already inside the system. Careful measures must be taken to rectify these issues, avoid attacks, and keep patient information safe.

Smart HIPAA Compliance Solutions for Your Practice

So, what does HIPAA compliance look like in practice? The best way to ensure that your practice is 100% compliant is to consult a professional IT company that specializes in the healthcare industry, but this HIPAA compliance checklist will set you up with the basics.

Regular Audits and Risk Assessments

Regular evaluations of your systems help to outline potential threats, identify vulnerabilities, and confirm that all data protection measures are up-to-date and effective.

Data Encryption

One of the most crucial HIPAA compliance solutions is encrypting all client data both in transit and at rest so that, even if it is intercepted, it can’t be read or manipulated by hackers.

Data Backups and Testing

Set up backup protocols for patient data and test them often to make sure data remains uncorrupted and can be quickly and easily restored after a cyber incident.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires users to provide additional confirmation of their identity (like a code or a fingerprint) to log in, preventing unauthorized contact with sensitive information.

Access Controls

Give each employee access to only the resources and data they need to do their job (the principle of least privilege) so that particular data passes through the fewest number of hands possible.

Software Management

Stay on top of software updates and patches to prevent vulnerabilities or gaps that scammers can take advantage of. Talk to your HIPAA compliance solutions team about setting up automatic updates so you never miss one.

Employee Training

Help your team be more aware and prepared by launching a cybersecurity training program. Explain the basics of HIPAA and how cyber safety keeps your practice compliant. Make trainings engaging and use real-world stories to drive home the importance of cybersecurity in patient protection.

Incident Response Planning and Testing

Designing and testing an incident response plan (IRP) allows practices to swiftly identify, address, and resolve cyber incidents, reducing downtime and data loss and ensuring patient care can continue.

Building and Device Security

HIPAA compliance solutions also include physical safeguards like access controls for facilities, securing devices with PHI, and managing hardware responsibly.

Twintel: Healthcare Compliance Made Simple

At Twintel, we know how complex compliance can get. But, we also know how to create efficient, effective HIPAA compliance solutions just for your business. With us, you can always expect proactive service, experience in healthcare cybersecurity, and a strong dedication to your satisfaction and success.

Schedule a meeting and rest easy knowing your patients’ data is protected and your practice can continue serving your community for years to come.