As we come off the Memorial Day holiday, there is some unhappy news for the US Department of Veterans Affairs: for the 16th consecutive year, it failed its Federal Information Security Management Act Audit. The report on the failures cited "Weaknesses in access and configuration management controls resulted from VA not fully implementing security standards on all servers, databases, and network devices,"
We've spoken to a lot of brave medical providers and administrators who are scared about running into HIPAA violations, failing cybersecurity audits, or even experiencing breaches. Of course, using telemedicine or telehealth platforms increase people's fear of these threats. But these kinds of healthcare collaboration programs do not have to increase risk. In fact, we've found that smart use of telemedicine can actually improve your security... as long as you're taking smart steps to not run afoul of regulations.
A roundup of our 11 most popular posts on HIPAA security and key things medical providers need to do to stay HIPAA secure:
Getting Started and Staying Secure
- A Review of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule.
- 3 Simple Ways to Stay HIPAA Compliant.
- Common HIPAA Violations and Penalities.
- Getting Started with HIPAA for Dentists.
Tips for Cybersecurity in Medical Settings
- Are You Making HIPAA Mistakes in Sending Medical Photos? Key HIPAA mistakes not to make when sending medical photos on the internet.
- How To Send Patient Files Without HIPAA Headahces.
- What To Do If You Lose Your iPhone. You’ve followed HIPAA, now you’ve lost your phone. Now what?
- 3 Ways to Keep Patient Communication Safe from HIPAA.
- How To Change Your Email Settings for HIPAA Protection.
Understanding Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policies
- BYOD -- Is Any Smartphone HIPAA Secure for Medical Providers? The short answer is yes, but only if you use the devices in certain ways.
- Nurses Risk HIPAA Violations with BYOD Texting. 67% of hospitals are seeing nurses use their smartphones in care.
To avoid one of the most common HIPAA breaches, get our guide on staying safe with Bring Your Own Device Policies: