Sunday 21 July 2019

How To Comply To HIPAA Management Solutions

By Nancy West


Database of healthcare institutions have uploaded files in it containing patient information. Stored also are the information from the administrative and management. All are confidential and needed protection from malicious intents. The HIPAA management solutions are there to regulate them to comply.

This Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is under federal law. It primarily simplifies administration, keeps healthcare insurance records, secures electronic records, and protects healthcare information confidentiality. The right as to who can read their medical records is one of the rights of the patient embedded in this act.

In order to comply with all those points, institutions can incorporate document management systems software into their database mainframe. This software stores, tracks, records and manages important information. It can handle large amounts of volume and helps in organizing the files. This is a document repository of the institution which can be easily searched and retrieved.

However, the law has some additional features it would like for them to have. First on that list is user authentication. It should be secured and strong enough to prevent unauthorized people from accessing private information. It also suggests in getting a multi factor authentication which has a temporary security code aside from passwords to minimize cyber attacks.

To help in achieving this, they need an installation of electronic security systems. Cyber security tools and firewalls are such systems. An operating system comes along with it which has a pre installed anti virus and anti spyware software. Sensitive information on administration and patient is ensured to be kept from malicious hands. To maximize this security, it regularly needs updates to have additional information comprehensive enough to include current details on cyber attacks.

The importance and sensitivity of information should be the basis in arranging them into groups. Encryption and security locks are not needed in common and benign data. It is the important ones that require them. Assigning them into security levels would allow authorized people access.

The method of having information that are translated and encoded in the system is known as encryption. Only those authorized are able to read the files. It uses a cryptographic algorithm to translate plain text to a combination of numbers and letters. It is better if the software they have has a bit encryption that is higher than average to increase the impossibility of any breach.

Their records have to reflect transparency and honesty. A simple audit trail can show who have read a particular file. Only authorized people can change and update any information in them. Meanwhile, it is the system administrator who can modify the security level of certain information and people allowed for access provided there is a commendation from upper management.

In case of unforeseen events, they should make plans for backups and recovery. Events may be due to natural calamities, cyber attacks, or software problems. Their systems provider who has complied with the act will store the documents in an off site center for protection. The provider also has a backup of their own in case their center incurs system failures.




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