The Electronic Health Record can be a very helpful tool. However, they are not without faults. Recent alerts highlight that electronic health records (EHR) are a prime target for cybercriminals. They can also lead to inappropriate billing if not set up properly.
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The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) issued a warning to healthcare entities regarding EHR vulnerabilities and safeguards.
Protected health information (PHI) continues to retain its value on the dark web and is a constant target for cybercriminals.
With the recent growth of telehealth and healthcare technology, we have seen a huge increase in cybercrimes and breaches trying to take advantage of security lapses.
How can you protect the PHI of your patients and your practice?
It’s important to take advantage of best practices when it comes to healthcare privacy and security.
Make sure you are aware of all security patches and regularly change your passwords.
Make sure your staff regularly changes all passwords for all devices that can access patient data. Also make sure no passwords are visible inside the office.
Encryption is the best way to ensure that healthcare data is protected from threats.
We recommend and assist our clients with staff training highlighting realistic protection measures, including phishing awareness and ransomware response.
It is very important that your backups are offsite and secure, in case your practices are compromised. Test your response time to keep your practice up and running after a cyber attack occurs.
Furthermore, to avoid compliance fines and penalties, your EHR template must be set up properly. Did you audit your templates and records? Audits can be very helpful and offer invaluable insights.
We’ve seen first-hand the potential damage from an incorrect template.
If you need help protecting patient data or auditing your EHR records, we can help. Contact Rickard & Associates today.
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The EHR Hazard post first appeared on Rickard & Associates.