How does HIPAA protect patient information?

HIPAA protects patient information by setting boundaries on using and releasing health records. The rule establishes the right measures to safeguard the privacy of PHI and sets standard limits and conditions on the disclosures, uses, or modifications without an individual’s permission. 

Here’s how HIPAA protects patient information:

Paper records

If you still have print records of your patients, they fall under the purview of HIPAA Privacy Rule. You must ensure that only authorized individuals have access to these records and maintain a secure filing system to safeguard patient confidentiality.

Electronic records

Electronic Health Records (EHR) have made patient care more efficient, but they, too, are protected by HIPAA. This too should be  safeguarded using tools like usernames & passwords protectors, and access controls among others.

Spoken information

Be mindful of what you say regarding PHI. Discuss patient matters privately, ensuring only authorized individuals have access to patient information.

Security standards

HIPAA has specific security standards, mainly for electronic records. Familiarize yourself with these standards and implement measures to protect electronic PHI.

Administrative safeguards

Designate a security official to oversee safeguards. Establish a security management process to identify and mitigate data risks. Train and manage employees with electronic records, and regularly evaluate and update your security processes.

Technical safeguards

Use audit controls and encryption to control access to PHI. These measures help you implement security measures for data transmission and ensure data integrity during storage and transmission.

Physical safeguards

Protect the physical hardware housing electronic records. This is done by using auto-logout features on workstations and restricting physical access to authorized personnel through keys or keycards.