Balancing connected communication with security and compliance: Mission possible

This decrease in data breaches is likely a result of healthcare organizations taking a proactive approach to security and compliance. By creating organizational strategies with predictive analytics and agile technology, healthcare leaders are able to better plan for future events and create a big picture view of available opportunities.

Whether you are already starting to propel your organization forward with this type of strategic planning, or just beginning to develop your security and compliance blueprint, you should keep the following steps in mind:

1. Identify your goals: Start by defining what success will look like for your healthcare organization. Set clear security and compliance goals for all departments to help your team align with common goals and track progress as new opportunities emerge. These goals can be as simple as basic document management protocols, or as advanced as cybersecurity rules and regulations.

2. Understand the current state: While setting goals is likely to get and keep your organization on track, it’s also very important to achieve a realistic view of where you currently stand in relation to these goals. This includes identifying areas of improvement for your current workflow and technology, as well as potential challenges to security and compliance. Consider implementing a comprehensive risk assessment to help gather a holistic view of these areas of opportunity.

3. Build and manage a print strategy. Your day-to-day workflows are one common source of heightened security and compliance challenges. Once you identify your areas of opportunity in Step 2, it can help to build and manage a secure print strategy to support these improvements. This can include switching from paper to electronic processes, and putting standards in place to help support secure internal and external document management.

4. Install and implement technology. Technology advancements in the new world of care can help healthcare leaders make more informed decisions, while also saving valuable time. When determining which technology is best for your organization, keep in mind the specific challenges and needs of your staff and patients. You will experience long-term improvements not only by taking the time to install new solutions and agile technologies, but also by implementing these tools to best support your workflows.

5. Review the full data life cycle. As a healthcare leader in the new world of care, you will likely face some challenges related to data breaches. Taking proactive steps now will make a big difference in how your organization is able to navigate these events. Turn security and compliance challenges into opportunities by using technology and processes that provide a comprehensive view of your data flow. This includes tracking data to identify patterns and detect potential risks — from the time it enters your organization all the way through its utilization, processing, transmission and storage.

Take your healthcare organization to the next level of security and compliance in the new world of care by letting your data work for you. In a time with new advancements and agile solutions, healthcare leaders have new opportunities to better understand what their information is telling them to inform smart decisions and proactive planning.