HIPAA Compliance and Risk Management in Colorado Healthcare

HIPAA Compliance and Risk Management in Colorado Healthcare

David Ginsberg, President of PrivaPlan Associates, Inc. recently joined Blake to discuss potential risks in the U.S. healthcare community. David and Blake discussed everything from HIPAA compliance, risk management, and cybersecurity.

In today’s world, the management of technology is vital to success. Regardless of where your company falls in the market, your data must be secure and protected for resiliency purposes. If you are in a health-related business, then the inability to keep your data secure can be highly detrimental to your company. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was created to ensure the confidentiality and security of Protected/ Personal Health Information (PHI).

What Does It Mean to Be HIPAA Compliant?

Healthcare data breaches in Colorado are becoming more common and can be damaging to any healthcare provider. That’s why compliance with HIPAA is essential for any business that processes, stores, or transmits electronic protected health information (ePHI). HIPAA compliance means you have an effective security management program, you understand how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act applies to your company, and you’re following what it says and implementing continuous ways to improve.

One way to ensure that you are compliant with HIPAA is to conduct regular audits of your computer network and patient information. HIPAA requires businesses to process the protected health information of their employees, and the easiest way to comply with this requirement is to check your network and software regularly. If a breach occurs, the software you use can help identify the source of the breach and help notify affected patients.

With the onset of numerous breaches, it is crucial to have a HIPAA-compliant solution in place. HIPAA compliance sees the protection of patient data as its most important element. If you are working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), or are looking to do so, you should make sure they have experience with HIPAA compliance. They should be able to perform a HIPAA risk assessment and form best practices internally with your team.

What Is a HIPAA Risk Assessment?

A HIPAA risk assessment is a tool that helps companies assess how to protect patient data and make sure systems are compliant with federal laws. A HIPAA assessment is an in-depth investigation into your company to determine where you might be out of compliance with the rules. It provides a comprehensive report of risk, one that covers multiple areas and contains in-depth interviews about internal workflows. It also includes internal interviews, an evaluation of processes and workflows, as well as a technological analysis.

A HIPAA assessment is a way to gauge your company’s level of proficiency as it relates to compliance. When working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), ask about their ability to provide HIPAA compliant solutions for your company. It is important to have the tools in place that can help you develop internal best practices.

Since HIPAA compliance is one of the most important issues facing companies in the healthcare industry today, more companies are using risk analysis tools to help them comply with regulations. A HIPAA security analysis ensures that your business meets the highest standards of safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI).

To prepare for a HIPAA security analysis, conduct an analysis of your current practices. Ensure that you have secure systems and practices. Make sure your employees understand their obligations under the rule:

• Have a security policy in place
• Document security policies and procedures
• Protect electronic protected health information (ePHI)
• Limit access to ePHI only to those with a need to know

HIPAA compliance sees the protection of patient data as its most important element. A HIPAA risk assessment is a tool that helps companies assess how to protect patient data and make sure systems are compliant with federal laws.

Protect Your Patients’ Data and Information with HIPAA-Compliant Solutions

Keeping your patients’ information safe is not easy. Eliminating threats to your patients’ information should be your top priority, but it can be intimidating. Colorado Computer Support has developed a HIPAA compliance plan that combines our existing IT services with cutting-edge tools that help keep data safe and secure.

In Colorado, healthcare organizations are moving beyond paper records and making the transition to digital by adopting EMRs. As they move forward with this transition, they need to ensure that their EMR and other IT systems are performing at optimal levels. At Colorado Computer Support, we have a dedicated team of IT professionals who understand the unique needs of the healthcare industry. Therefore, we can provide you with a plan for keeping your environment secure, organized, up-to-date, and HIPAA compliant.

Here are five key ways our managed IT services can help healthcare organizations in Colorado:

• Our integrated system of IT services can help optimize efficiency and patient care.
• Our system of IT tools can help improve patient safety and hospital security.
• We can help you protect patient data and ensure HIPAA compliance.
• Our network monitoring services will alert you to issues before they become problems, keeping your network up and running at all times.

If you manage a healthcare organization in Colorado, you know the complex challenges that come with your work. Seek out a managed IT services provider like Colorado Computer Support that can offer technology for HIPAA compliance, increased patient satisfaction, and more cost-efficient operations. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.