Bad enough that robbers were stealing a laptop and a cell phone from a physician, but in a unique incident, the assailants forced the physician to disclose the password and encryption keys to the encrypted data in the laptop. Even as enterprises work their way to protect their data from cyber criminals, unique incidents such…
Reports healthcare data breaches have reached a near 138%. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights therefore unveils its second round of audit program. Unlike the previous ones, this time the OCR is looking to conduct audits across all high-risk areas. While this eliminates on-site visits, they are looking towards potentially…
With digital technology entering the healthcare industry in many ways, there has been a need to ensure meaningful use of electronic health records and ensure privacy of such medical records. To promote this, the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program offers financial incentives to the healthcare enterprises. However, to receive this incentive the CMS has…
Technological innovations over the years has paved the way for physicians and healthcare professionals to adopt mobile technology in their healthcare practices. While this has brought in positive impacts on patient care, organizational efficiency and work flow, healthcare data breaches have unfortunately become a major issue faced by large number of healthcare providers. Even as…
The Connecticut case of Emily Byrne vs. Avery Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology may be a trend-setter where healthcare providers and business associates could be at legal risk by failing to follow the HIPAA regulation or other privacy regulation. In this case, a patient sued the healthcare clinic for releasing her medical records to a…
Technological growth has empowered today’s healthcare industry with a number of software applications and IT infrastructure which enables them to communicate, store and process patient health information the digital way. However, with cyber threat lurking above the IT enabled environment, the Office for Civil Rights had enforced the HIPAA Privacy Rule, as a sequel to…
The aggressively competitive environment and customer demands challenges business world to adopt every new technology to be in tune with the changing technology scenario. However, simply adopting new technologies will not really give enterprises a competitive advantage. With businesses working through a digital and networked world, the emerging technologies also open up new areas of…
Yet another major data breach by leaving a folder unsecured in the infinitely connected networked world. The recent federal healthcare data breach tally reported a data breach that affected more than 307,000 patient records from an unsecured folder. This case of unsecured folder of Touchstone Medical Imaging, a provider for diagnostic imaging services leading to…
Medical information of any individual includes unique identifiers, demographic data, medical conditions, health care provider’s details, billing information as well as immediate family members’ details and medical history. The growth of technology has paved way for storage of these records in electronic formats with quick access from any location. Even as every individual approaches doctors…
Information Technology breakthroughs paved way for wide use of Information management systems in the healthcare sector, transforming the healthcare system for improved patient care and cost reduction. However, the increase in patient’s vital information being collected and stored in hospitals and other healthcare establishments, turned as a prime target for cyber criminals causing hospitals to…
