Top 5 Tips to Become HIPAA Compliant

January 8, 2020
Recent events have seen a lot of organizations handling PHI fall prey to disastrous breaches such as malware attacks and the like. When a huge amount of patient data is being stored, disseminated and transferred using digital media, this is not at all desirable.
Such lapses are usually the result of failure to comply with HIPAA standards. Many organizations have to face hefty fines and regulatory disciplinary action as a result of non-compliance. With a little bit of effort and the correct professional help this can be easily avoided.
In the light of such events it is essential that organizations dealing with medical data are up to speed with the latest HIPAA compliance requirements and are implementing them diligently. We’ve already discussed 5 top tips for HIPAA compliance.
Here are 5 more tips to help you achieve the same goal.

Know the Effects of Non-Compliance

Knowing just how important it is to be HIPAA compliant is simply a matter of recognizing the effects of not being compliant. Failure to be HIPAA compliant can lead to serious losses in terms of patient data, not to mention the imposition of fines and associated problems. In cases where negligence is established, this can lead to further punitive action that can have long-lasting effects on the organization.

Understand the Need

Many organizations view HIPAA compliance as one of the unnecessary legal miasmas that solely exist to put additional burden on them. While HIPAA rules and regulations can indeed be complex to understand and implement, it is nevertheless one of the most important requirements for the purpose of protecting patient data from falling into the wrong hands. If you find HIPAA to be too complex to navigate you can always hire professionals to do the job on your behalf.

Know your Patient Data

One of the important requirements to become HIPAA compliant is to proactively recognize what does and does not constitute patient data. Per HIPAA guidelines, patient data in all its forms, both physical as well as digital must be protected by organizations handling PHI. Therefore, knowing what is data and what is not can go a long way towards compliance.

Use the Right Tech

Technology is one of the biggest enablers of HIPAA compliance. By using the right tools, you can automate much of the functions and assessment procedures that are essential for compliance. With the proper software and associated tools,you can easily set out on the road to HIPAA compliance.

Choose the Right Partners

Who you work with, determines how you work. When looking to implement HIPAA compliance in your organization, make sure to leverage the help of the right partners who can assist you to get your business in order

Final Words

Remember, HIPAA rules are not for protecting the patient alone; they also provide equal protection to your organization. With professional help and guidance, you can easily implement your security policies and achieve the required compliance standards.

 

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