It’s happened in hundreds of offices. A thirsty staff member brings a beverage to a computer workstation. Sets in down within easy reach. Logs on to the computer and turns her attention to the screen. A few minutes later, she absently reaches for the drink. Accidentally knocks it over. Gasps as the cola from her […]
8 Simple Physical Safeguards for Protected Health Information Read More »
Phishing has become so commonplace, the word has made its way into the dictionary: Phish — to try to obtain financial or other confidential information from Internet users, typically by sending an e-mail that looks as if it is from a legitimate organization, usually a financial institution, but contains a link to a fake website
How Falling Prey to a Phishing Expedition Puts PHI at Risk Read More »
Let me set a scene where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) would be “just what the doctor ordered.” You’re out of town at a conference of healthcare professionals in your specialty. Before you left home, a colleague asked you to consult on a paricular case. She said she would email you the patient’s test results
The Pluses of a Virtual Private Network for Exchanging PHI Remotely Read More »
If you or someone on your staff opens one of these diabolic — yet seemingly innocent — email attachments, they can infect the office’s computers and make running your practice “hella” difficult until they’re fixed. Email attachments are a common source of viruses and worms. When opened, they can give hackers control of your computer,
Beware of the Email Attachments from Hell Read More »
The single most common way Protected Health Information (PHI) is compromised is through the loss of devices themselves, whether this happens by accident or by theft. Technology — thumb drives, CDs, smart phones, tablets — has made it possible for large amounts of information to be tucked into our pockets or purses and carried to
The Basics of Mobile Device Security for Protected Health Information Read More »
In your line of work, people come to you every day with symptoms. Chest pains. Chills. Blurred vision. Toothaches. And every day you draw on your years of medical, optometry, or dental training and your skills as a diagnostician to figure what’s wrong and how to fix it. As a healthcare professional, it’s what you
6 Symptoms of a Possible Computer Virus Read More »
Fact: According to the latest HIPAA and Breach Enforcement Stats from the Office of Civil Rights (the arm of Health and Human Services responsible for HIPAA enforcement), theft is the leading cause of reported breaches. Last year, as a direct result of a breach report of a stolen unencrypted laptop, Concentra Health Services paid OCR
Basic Guide to Thwarting Theft of Protected Health Information Read More »
Are patient sign-in sheets HIPAA compliant? In most cases, yes. In some cases, no. Let’s take a quick look at both, starting with the HIPAA Privacy Rule itself. The goal of that law is to ensure that you and your staff take appropriate steps to protect your patients’ privacy. The creators of the Privacy Rule
What the HIPAA Privacy Rule Says about Patient Sign-In Sheets Read More »
The computers in your office are veritable treasure chests of information cyber pirates would love to get their hands on. Only authorized personnel in a practice should have the keys to unlock what’s inside.  Passwords as those keys. They play an important role in protecting Electronic Health Records (EHR) and the vital information those records
Can You Keep a Secret? 9 Tips for Creating Strong Passwords. Read More »
Let’s be honest. To many healthcare providers, HIPAA is four-letter word. And the phrase “HIPAA compliance” — around since 1996 — has become a kind of irritating background noise they’ve gotten used to, but still wish would go away. Here in 2015 HIPAA compliance can no longer be ignored. Advances in technology and consumer awareness,
8 Common HIPAA Compliance Cop-Outs Read More »
