The truth is that HIPAA is a big deal if you're in the medical field, period. When we talk about healthcare collaboration and telemedicine, though, people can be even more concerened about cyber security dynamics.

There are concerns at the institutional level, of course. But  for individual healthcare providers, it can feel like we're burdened by the responsibility to protect PHI from HIPAA breaches, without the tools or information to do so effectively.

So we were interested to hear the insights offered recently by Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. 

Here are some of his best tips for staying cyber-safe as an individual healthcare provider:

• Make sure everyone who handles data is aware of their responsibility to safeguard it. (More on personal responsibilities and tips to stay safe here.) 
• Make the risks of data violations clear to every provider, across the continuum of care. 
• Understand how to keep your digital assets safe -- especially with common tools like email.
• Understand what to do if there is a security issue (like losing your iPhone.)
• Use tools that work effectively with the pace and complexity of medical workflow

We encourage providers to innovate and care for patients, despite the bureaucratic deluges that sometimes feel as thought they'll drown us. But it doesn't have to be hard to stay HIPAA-safe, even when using a telemedicine tool -- and it is important.