Achieving Healthcare Compliance with Data Security

Overview of Compliance in Healthcare IT

Healthcare organizations and providers must be in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations in order to keep patient data safe. With the rise of telehealth technology over the years, more healthcare organizations are storing medical data in a software system, making it vulnerable to data breaches. Many of the security measures required by compliance regulations are intended to protect sensitive patient information and organizational data.

Significance of Compliance in Healthcare IT

Two primary compliance regulations are the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). HIPAA regulations impact U.S. healthcare organizations that must be followed to keep protected health information secure. GDPR regulations impact the European Union, protecting sensitive information and harmonizing data protection laws across EU member states.

The healthcare industry handles large amounts of patient data, and without these regulations in place, organizations would not be responsible for putting in data security measures. Having effective measures to protect sensitive data will also make patients and healthcare providers feel more confident in the software they are using, knowing it will safeguard confidential information.

Key Concepts Associated with Compliance in Healthcare

While compliance regulations will depend on the various laws a healthcare organization has to follow, the key concepts behind them typically remain the same. Healthcare compliance regulations are more than legal protections for medical data – they are also ethical guidelines to ensure patient safety. Some of the other outcomes of strong compliance regulations include:

• Improved patient care and outcomes

• Higher patient satisfaction

• Reduced healthcare provider fatigue

• Improved professional reputation in the industry

Steps to Achieve Compliance in Healthcare IT

There are a few key steps to achieve compliance in healthcare software solutions, including performing a risk assessment, creating extensive policies and procedures, and then properly training the healthcare staff. Let’s take a closer look at how to complete these steps and ensure full compliance with healthcare technology.

Conducting a Risk Assessment

Conducting a risk assessment is essential for a healthcare organization to fully understand what data must be protected and the type of security measures to put in place. Risk assessments identify potential risks that could impact an organization’s compliance with regulations. A risk assessment will also review all of the practices, policies, and procedures for an organization and confirm they are in full regulatory compliance.

Risk assessments should be completed on a regular basis to ensure a healthcare organization is up-to-date with regulatory requirements and continuously updates the training materials and risk mitigation documents.

Developing and Implementing Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures should be put in place based on the findings of the risk assessment. These policies and procedures will be structured around regulatory risks, ensuring all aspects of the software and workflows protect patient data.

While these are developed to protect personal health information, they also serve as guidelines for healthcare professionals. Strict guidelines on how staff can interact with health data will ensure they are not breaking compliance laws and instead protecting patient and organization data.

Training and Educating Healthcare Staff

The best way to ensure healthcare professionals comply with regulations is to train them and offer continuous education resources. This training can include what patient information can be disclosed, how to interact with health information technology, and what to do in the case of healthcare data breaches.

Organizations can also provide continuous education resources to healthcare staff to re-train them on various regulations and procedures. The healthcare industry and technology are constantly evolving, so being up-to-date on data breach tactics is essential to protecting healthcare data.

Strategies for Continuing Compliance in Healthcare IT

Creating a strategy for continuous compliance in a healthcare organization is essential for long-term success. This includes regular audits of the organization, updating compliance training programs, and mitigating potential compliance issues before they become a problem.

Regular Auditing and Monitoring

Running regular audits on the healthcare organization and its employees is a key factor in ensuring long-term compliance. Audits are a great way to ensure that policies and procedures are being followed throughout the organization. If any non-compliant actions are identified during the audit, then the organization can properly address these actions and ensure they are corrected in the future.

Updating Compliance Programs

Compliance training programs are essential to train healthcare professionals on how to interact with common technology, like electronic health records. As technology advances, additional training is required of healthcare professionals to ensure they are maintaining data security. With regular training programs, healthcare organizations can verify that all employees understand the steps required to protect sensitive patient data.

Handling Potential Compliance Issues

When a risk audit is performed, and potential issues are identified, healthcare organizations will create a risk mitigation plan. These plans target issues that are immediately non-compliant but rather target issues that could potentially be a large compliance problem at some point in the future. It is critical for healthcare organizations to resolve these issues ahead of time to ensure that no legal actions are taken.

How Geneca Can Help

Geneca has over 25 years of experience creating and maintaining high-quality, reliable custom software solutions. Our partners choose us because we:

• Understand software and business, including healthcare compliance and data security requirements

• Use cutting-edge technology paired with trusted, evergreen tools

• Communicate changes, progress, and expectations through every step of the development process

• Honor your budget and timeline from the start

If you’re ready to learn more about how to ensure your healthcare software solution is in compliance with regulations, contact Geneca today!