Any office that handles sensitive medical information is required to abide by certain regulations established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. As technology has expanded and data has been digitized, HIPAA requirements have shifted to encompass how digital medical records should be protected. Be sure to check these four things to ensure that your company is abiding by essential HIPAA regulations for compliance. If you’re still not sure if you’re HIPAA compliant, contact an IT consultant in Orlando, FL, for help.
Your Data Storage
It doesn’t matter if you store your data on-premises, in the cloud, or both—anywhere you store medical data must meet HIPAA compliance standards. There are many regulations in place regarding how data must be stored, as well as how that storage is to be protected. Make sure your data storage solution includes all of the following:
- Multiple layers of security
- Endpoint protection software
- Encryption systems
- Strict access controls
- Multifactor authentication
Building your own on-premises data storage is often the best solution for businesses that must meet HIPAA compliance standards. We can help you to create your own HIPAA-compliant storage solution, as well as discuss secure options for data backup to the cloud.
Secure Telehealth Services
It’s not just medical data that’s gone digital. Some medical services have been digitized too, and many clinics now offer telehealth services for their clients. If your business provides telehealth or virtual consultation services, it’s important that you ensure any technology you use is approved by HIPAA. You may also need to implement a few additional measures to ensure that your business remains HIPAA compliant while using this technology. For example, in-transit encryption during virtual consultations is essential to prevent hackers from intercepting audio or video of the interaction.
Your Business Associates
Do you have any other companies or organizations that can access the protected health information (PHI) you handle? If so, you need to ensure that you’re working with someone who is HIPAA compliant as well. This might include associates like law firms or accountants that can electronically access your clinic’s files, as well as IT consultants like us. Any time you’re considering working with a third party for your business, if they will have access to protected health information, ask them if they’re HIPAA compliant first.
Your PHI Notice
Finally, make sure that your website contains a copy of your current PHI notice for patients to access. You can get more details about what your PHI notice should contain here, but in essence, it should inform your patients what their rights are in regards to their health information.
This is just a basic look at some of the security requirements that you must meet in order to remain HIPAA compliant. At Millennium Technology Group, we specialize in data security that is compliant with HIPAA regulations, and we can help you to ensure that your clinic or other business is meeting all requirements. Contact our IT services company serving Orlando, FL, today to schedule a consultation.