Three proactive ways to improve security and compliance

The number of high-profile healthcare security breaches in recent years may make it seem as if your organization can do little more than wait for a hacker to come calling.

But the fact is, your organization doesn’t have to fall victim. In today’s new world of care, the key is to proactively improve security and compliance measures.

Here are three effective ways to help protect your healthcare organization from a breach:

1. Start with a plan

It’s vital to have an enterprise-wide plan that:

Includes a comprehensive risk assessment that goes beyond simply monitoring security controls to also identify what information is most valuable within your organization.
Gets 100% buy-in from all department stakeholders based on each one’s needs.
Involves security and compliance input early on.

In today’s complex healthcare environment, making improvements on a department-by-department basis is often no longer realistic or effective.

In today’s complex healthcare environment, making improvements on a department-by-department basis is often no longer realistic or effective. Change management that helps organizations make the transition from basic installation to ongoing implementation is a critical aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked.

2. Track data workflows from the beginning

Many healthcare organizations still capture data electronically at the end of their workflows. That means they may be copying or scanning a hardcopy document and faxing or emailing it to another destination — and possibly the wrong one — before gaining the security benefits of an electronic workflow.

A securer option is to start capturing data electronically at the very beginning of the process, when it can be immediately assigned, logged and tracked. This not only generates the increased productivity, sharing and collaboration associated with digitized data, but it also increases security by providing a window into who is accessing information and enabling you to identify and close potential workflow gaps.

3. Lock down data at rest, not just in transit.

Protected health information should be safeguarded at all times. Yet often overlooked are the potential security issues associated with pool printers and fax machines to which anyone can walk up and take documents from their trays. Healthcare organizations may instead want to consider hardened, encrypted smart devices that keep contents secure until authorized staff enter the proper pin or password.

Ultimately, being more proactive about security and compliance is going to help your organization adeptly navigate the new world of care — both across the care continuum and with your patients. Don’t wait for something to happen before taking action; be proactive now so you can reap the benefits of improved security and compliance today and well into the future.

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