Imagine a world with easily hacked, vulnerable data and sensitive information, especially about health records. A reign of chaos of stigma and discrimination awaits you that may highly impact your personal relationships and even work. Cyberattacks in the healthcare industry are not something to be ignored and remain unaddressed. When confidential health records are exposed to the grasp of cyberattacks, addressing this concern with effective strategies should be a top priority.

But are you capable of doing what is supposed to be done? Or, are you familiar with the methods experts use to professionally secure healthcare data?

What is HIPAA Compliance?

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This was designed to establish control over the changing challenges in the landscape of the healthcare industry. Its goals are to modernize healthcare data flow, establish security against healthcare theft and fraud, and monitor how healthcare providers use and maintain confidential personally identifiable information (PII).

However, with today’s developing and advancing technologies, so is an increase in stronger cyberattacks on the security of healthcare data. That is why regulations are integrated to provide the utmost protection to patients, especially their data.

Here is a better way to understand why there is a need for HIPAA Compliance:

Patient Record Protection

Data breaches due to unsecured databases or a lack of defense against cyberattacks are common. HIPAA compliance is established to provide security and protection of patients’ confidential healthcare records. However, it is not only and entirely about unauthorized access to crucial healthcare information and data. It is also about preserving the integrity and confidentiality of this information, including health records, treatments, and plans. It is about using the data to benefit the patients.

Healthcare Quality

With secured and sensitive patient data and information, not only are patients trusting their healthcare providers, but this also ensures the quality and efficiency of services, making the exchange of relevant information go smoothly. This, in turn, results in a good rapport and trust between patient and provider, reduced medical errors, and improved patient outcomes.

Moreover, HIPAA serves as a guide for healthcare providers to focus solely on providing the utmost patient care. This fosters assurance and encouragement to patients to be more honest and open, which is essential and crucial for proper diagnoses and devising effective treatment plans.

Access Control

HIPAA Compliance grants patients the authority to control their relevant health data. Patients have the right to request copies of their healthcare records, even if they switch healthcare providers. Additionally, records and other relevant data cannot be used by covered entities for research purposes, fundraising, or marketing without written permission from the patient.

Consequences Await for HIPAA Non-compliance

Covered entities that failed to comply with or follow regulations that risked or jeopardized PII will be held accountable and, depending on the severity of the damage or result, will be subjected to fines, criminal penalties, or jail time.

HIPAA violations are investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services for Civil Rights. They conduct audits of different covered entities, including their business associates. Depending on the level of negligence, you will have to face the consequences of non-compliance.

Are you worried about the security and access to confidential healthcare data? Address different kinds of breaches by getting yourself a reliable IT service provider. Avail of the services you need from none other than Independence Computer Corp to secure healthcare data. Reach us at 516-837-0081.