Compliance is a growing concern for all Medical IT services and the companies they serve. With security and privacy issues becoming paramount as regulations increase, all healthcare industry companies must ensure they are operating according to these laws by working with the right managed IT services provider. An experienced IT provider who understands the complex security requirements that apply in the medical industry today is essential to ensure that healthcare services are in compliance and can appropriately protect their customers.
Medical Compliance Security and Privacy Risks
Personal privacy is of prime concern when for security compliance. In the medical industry, an individual's privacy is protected in a number of ways. Healthcare businesses require effective medical IT services to help them remain in compliance with the following rules and regulations:
- PCI-DSS Standards - Payment card security and protection is nothing new to managed IT services who already have the important task of keeping sensitive personal and financial data protected. Networks must be secure enough to prevent theft of this information with regular monitoring against new threats and suspicious network usage.
- HIPAA Standards - In addition to operating in accordance with PCI-DSS standards, those in the medical industry must also protect the health information of consumers. This includes protecting against the inappropriate disclosure of information, unlawful use of information by employees, and the confidential storage of all personal health information.
Avoiding Medical IT Compliance Mistakes
Considering the importance of both PCI-DSS and HIPAA conformity in the medical industry, healthcare services must avoid the main mistakes that could jeopardize their compliance, such as the following:
- Failing to Evaluate IT Service Providers - Healthcare security compliance is highly specialized, requiring a more complex approach to network security than most other industries. As a result, not all managed IT services will be experienced in HIPAA laws or be able to provide the type and extent of security necessary. Healthcare businesses must carefully screen potential IT providers to ensure they are experienced in medical compliance and can provide the required services.
- Failing to Stay Current Regarding Compliance and Security Methods - Compliance laws are constantly changing, which means medical IT services relating to network and information security must also keep up with such changes. Healthcare businesses must keep informed about any changes and comply with the resulting changes that IT providers must make to ensure the legal and most secure operation.
- Failing to Address Onsite Information Security - With so much attention placed on network and electronic security, many healthcare companies forget about the physical security of digital information. An effective security program must address access to stored data and how to prevent it from being physically removed from the business location.
Companies within the healthcare industry must understand that their businesses present an especially significant risk concerning personal information on a variety of levels. Although computer networks in all industries must be secured with appropriate threat detection and prevention systems, HIPAA compliance adds another even more complex layer to managed IT services. To keep patients and their personal financial and healthcare information safe, health industry companies must entrust their IT needs to the right provider. Medical IT service providers who understand HIPAA compliance laws and how to design data protection programs for the medical industry are a key factor in maintaining both PCI-DSS and HIPAA compliance!
