If you're like most physicians, you're probably passionate about protecting patient information. You follow HIPAA regulations to the letter and expect your support staff to do the same. But even with the best intentions, it can be difficult to keep patient information from falling into the hands of hackers.
About half of all cyberattacks occur in the healthcare sector. According to a recent survey by the American Medical Association (AMA), 83 percent of physicians have experienced a healthcare cyberattack of some type.
Why are electronic health records (EHRs) so appealing to hackers and why should medical records management be a priority in your practice? Here are five things you should know about protecting patient information in the digital era.
1. EHRs Are Valuable
Most people think hackers are only after financial information, such as credit card and bank account numbers, but personal healthcare data is actually worth much more these days. For example, your Social Security number may be worth about 10 cents on the black market, while your credit card information might net about 25 cents. A patient's EHR, on the other hand, could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
2. EHRs Are Data Goldmines
EHRs are one-stop shopping destinations for cybercriminals. They contain almost all of a patient's personal information, including his or her Social Security number, credit card number, address, and family information. This can make EHRs appealing targets for identity thieves.
Medical records contain even more personal details about health, which could be used to blackmail patients, particularly those who are politicians, celebrities or otherwise in the public eye.
3. EHRs Are Low-Hanging Fruit
As healthcare organizations try to streamline patient information by getting medical records online, there's great opportunity for hacking. Outdated security measures, a lack of skilled cybersecurity professionals and overlapping technologies can create gaps that make it easy for hackers to infiltrate systems and steal EHRs.
4. It's Not Just About EHRs
Hackers can mine data from medical devices as well medical records. For example, state-of-the-art technology allows physicians to store sensitive data in ultrasound systems, so it's important to note that protecting patient information extends to these devices too. You should invest in products that keep sensitive data safe through advanced security features such as whitelisting and HD encryption, particularly if you're using a system that allows you to share images with other physicians.
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5. Basic Best Practices for Protecting Patient Information
You don't have to be a technological wiz to protect your patients' personal information. Following security best practices, keeping platforms up to date, conducting cybersecurity audits and staying on top of the latest news about online security, ransomware attacks and hacking can go a long way.
In today's increasingly mobile and connected world, protecting patient information is more crucial and more complex than ever. Physicians who understand the value of medical data and adhere to basic security standards can use this technology to enhance the patient experience and build trust as they march into the digital age.
