One of the emerging hot topics in the healthcare system is how to protect the data of the patient in the event of hacking and other cyber related crimes. This article focuses on the importance of protecting health care information, effects that are likely to be observed in case of data leakages, legal measures and application of innovative technologies. Culturing best practices indicative of patient engagement, it underscores the so-important factors such as patient trust and compliance.
Data protection and security are the essential parts of modern healthcare, as the significant portion of information exchanges is in digital format today. As the adoption of EHRs continues to rise and people are connected to multiple smart devices the healthcare sector is presented with a series of concerns when it comes to protecting patients’ data. It is for this reason that the protection of this data is not just a legal issue, but even more a question of trust in the healthcare system.
Healthcare data is some of the most sensitive data. Some of the electronic records contain such private information as names, addresses, social security numbers, medical histories, diagnoses and treatment plan, among others. If such information gets into the wrong hands, then this will result to identity theft, fraud, among other equivalent consequences to the patients involved.
Second, we need to ensure that data sharing between the domains remains privacy-preserving in order to protect the patients’ trust in their healthcare providers. People having health issues require assurance that their data will remain protected whenever they are entrusting it with care takers. If they feel that their data can be breached, they might fail to provide crucial details, which in turn will diminish the efficiency of their treatment.
Data privacy can therefore be defined as the recognition of the rights of the people with respect to personal information while data security is means that have been adopted with a view to protecting this information from being accessed by unwanted parties such as hackers, and from being lost. The object of concern in healthcare is being patient’s information, and because of that, data security is crucial.
It is an essential requirement that the data of the healthcare organizations have to be safeguarded adequately. This involves measures to protect data such as employing encryption, secure network, fire walls and other techniques such as intrusion detection system.
Additional, security reviews must be performed on a regular basis to identify insecure areas, and the security measures must be explained to the employees of the organization.
Consequences of the health data breach are immense thus the importance of protecting the information. However, the long-term consequences that come with implementing the two are not limited to expenditure that results from the violation, for example, informing the patients or paying potential penalties; rather, it slows down the general trust that patients have in the hospitals. A single leak of patient information can compromise the reputation of a healthcare provider and the flow of patients and, therefore, revenue.
For patients, the implications of an incident of data breach are much more ominous. They too can be used to commit fraud and deception such as insurance fraud since the information on the health records is genuine. Sometimes when medical records are breached, the records are incorrect and the patient is treated, or not treated, for the wrong conditions with their health and lives at risk.
There are legal provisions in so many countries which strictly regulate the protection of patient’s information in health sector. In the United States the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides the national guidelines for identity data protection. HIPAA makes provisions on manner in which these organizations should protect patient information and the need to inform the patients in case of a breach.
Still concerning compliance, each country has its own laws as to the protection of healthcare data, which may borrow a lot from the European General Data Protection Regulation. Violations of these regulations attract fines and legal consequences and therefore it is important that the health care providers are conversant with the existing laws.
The use of technology is very crucial in increasing data security in the healthcare sector. Secure information management in the health care sector is now employing more elaborative encryption structures, the use of blockchain solutions and the application of artificial consciousness. For instance, use of AI in healthcare can be used to distinguish between normal trends of network traffic that may be caused by a cyber-attack, hence, the ability to investigate and manage such incidences in the instant.
The technology made popular by Bitcoins is also being applied to the healthcare industry. In this way, blockchain can facilitate that, for example, the information regarding a patient is shared only with authorized individuals and organizations involved in the patient’s treatment.
Healthcare organizations can adopt several best practices to enhance data privacy and security:
Protection of patient’s information is always a major concern to any health care organization. This is because as the industry expands and everybody turns to the internet, there is increased sensitivity in handling patient’s data. Through enhanced security, compliance with regulations and sensibilization of all members of the healthcare organizations, it is possible to safeguard the information as it will contribute to develop the trust and the safe delivery of the health care services.
Harry Callum, a key member of the editorial team at American Hospital & Healthcare Management, consistently produces engaging and informative content. His ability to break down complex healthcare topics into easily understandable terms allows the team to effectively share timely and relevant information with healthcare professionals around the world.
