Topics:
- What are EMR privacy concerns?
- EMR safety degree
- The human factor
- How do you keep your records safe?
With healthcare evolution, EMR privacy concerns and how to get rid of them are becoming important. Parallelly, healthcare tools that provide high-quality care evolve too. Today, everybody is moving towards EMRs due to their many advantages.Of course, most parties know that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) suggests EMR usage. Furthermore, penalties will ensue when implementation is absent. So, digital is undoubtedly the future of healthcare. Besides, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) commits organizations to protect patients’ interests. Naturally, security is a major feature in EMRs. Although some remain skeptical, professionals know how EMRs respect confidentiality. For example, only authorized providers can access EMRs.
What are EMR privacy concerns?
Let’s start with EMR privacy concerns and how to get rid of them. Firstly, many people are not comfortable storing their data digitally. Here are their concerns:
- Security breaches: this is the first thing that comes to patients’ minds. In fact, such events took place recently at both big and small companies. Healthcare too got breached at some point. However, when you use the right EMR system, you ease patients’ concerns. Thankfully, some systems offer full secure data storage, monitoring, access, and maintenance. For instance, they include firewalls, switches, infrastructure support, and software support. So, they protect you from cybercrimes.
- Unauthorized access to files: secondly, patients are most anxious about unauthorized access to their files. This is why some functions like attempts to log in are possible to reveal.
- Loss of information: lastly, a lot of patients think about data loss. Basically, this is everyone’s nightmare. Recovery and backup routines are there to save the day.
EMR safety degree
Can we control EMR privacy concerns and how to get rid of them? Initially, when people consider hacking, they think such actions target banks mostly. Yet 1 over 4 attacks target healthcare. Digital thieves aim at non-financial information. social security numbers, patients’ histories, and home addresses. These help them steal identities and commit insurance frauds. Numerically, cyber attacking EMRs costs billions to hospitals per year.Also, 1 in 13 patients are victims of such frauds. But EMRs are still safe. They use data encryption the same way as banks to protect medical records. With standard encryption, you’re safe not to mention firewalls that protect you from unauthorized access. Generally, when you simply store and transfer data, firewalls and encryptions keep you safe from vicious attackers. So, why is there a threat if the electronic part seems safe? The human factor is the answer.
The human factor
Moving on with EMR privacy concerns and how to get rid of them, let’s take a close look at the human factor. In the first place, whoever delivers patient care accesses EMRs. Including billing and claims officers, nurses, network administrators, clinic and office staff members, and patients. Although HIPAA offers patients key privacy rights in terms of EMR safety, patients have access by asking for their file copies. Furthermore, when you store different EMR systems on personal or home computers, you don’t get the same kind of protection. Plus, a lot of patients store their records with Personal Health Records (PHR).By definition, this is an online record you can secure with a password to help you organize your data. Yet a weaker password leaves you prone to attacks. Because HIPAA standards when it comes to security are absent with PHRs, you’re weaker. Above all, some exemptions to HIPAA’s rules impact your EMR safety. Employers, life insurers, and school districts access medical records without the patient knowing.These gaps in security include patients accessing their records through insecure devices. As well as using weak passwords or letting a third party in.
How do you keep your records safe?
To make sure your EMRs are safe and sound, there are many ways. Despite your clinic, patients, hospital, or third-party requesting access. Check out these tips that boost your security:
- Provide patients with EMR safety education: Obviously, you don’t have control over your patient’s doings to their records. The more they learn about the dangers, the less they become easy targets.
- Maintain offline backup files: Consequently, this is how you beat ransomware that jeopardizes your information.
- Use photos in EMRs for fewer fraud: include patients’ photos to cut stolen identities.
- Reduce office access to files: A privacy screen will protect your computers when unattended.
- Compose strong passwords: this protects medical information like a strong lock. Don’t forget to sign off when you finish.
Lastly, EMRs are definitely safer than paper records. We’ve always stressed their many benefits. Yet, they as well have gaps. The biggest factor that threats safety is human error. Reduce the risks by educating your staff and patients and taking the right precautions.Ambula Healthcare team is here to help reduce your privacy concerns, contact us: (818) 308-4108. And now check out the many benefits of cloud-based EMR software.
