HIPAA Secure Now!

We've had a lot of exciting new releases and enhancements lately, so we figured we'd re-introduce ourselves! 👋 To clients new, old, & prospective: we are here for you! 🫶 💭 If you have any questions about our current services, send us a DM, drop them in the comments, or reach out on our website: https://bit.ly/3Sojz4X.

Our healthcare training suite just doubled in value! 🤯 We're thrilled to announce the addition of two new courses to our award-winning lineup: 1️⃣ Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) 2️⃣ OSHA for Healthcare These new offerings join our existing cybersecurity and HIPAA courses, creating a comprehensive compliance training solution for healthcare organizations. 🪪 FWA Training Highlights: • Designed for Medicare and Medicaid partners • 5 engaging case study videos (only 11 minutes total) • Supplemental guide for deeper understanding ⚠️ OSHA for Healthcare Features: • 16 customizable modules (3-15 minutes each) • Covers common healthcare workplace hazards • Tailored learning experience for specific needs Our mission? Transform compliance training from a chore into an engaging, effective learning journey. 💪 From chaos to clarity, overlooked risks to proactive solutions– we're here to simplify healthcare compliance. 🧘♀️ Drop a🍿in the comments to schedule your sneak peek today.

We are thinking of all those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Thank you to the emergency responders and all of the good samaritans who have represented the best of humanity during these difficult PHEs. ❤️ With safety and privacy as our top priorities, we found it crucial to share some pertinent information related to HIPAA waivers during Public Health Emergencies.

Drowning in paperwork and regulations? You're not alone. Running a healthcare practice feels like managing a never-ending to-do list. FWA and OSHA training- two more acronyms to lengthen that list. But here's the thing: understanding and implementing these regulations effectively can significantly impact your patients’ well-being, your staff’s safety, and your practice’s financial health. Imagine a world where your team effortlessly spots fraud attempts, waste disappears, and safety becomes second nature. It's not a fantasy. With the right approach, FWA and OSHA training can transform from burdensome tasks into powerful tools. Dive in and discover how these "necessary evils" can actually fuel your success in this week's blog: https://bit.ly/3Nh9K73 And stay tuned! Our new video trainings, launching October 15th, will make mastering FWA and OSHA requirements easier than ever. Comment 'DEMO' to gain a sneak peek of these new additions to our comprehensive compliance suite. 💭

$3.31 million. That's the average cost of a data breach faced by small healthcare organizations with fewer than 500 employees in 2023, marking a 13% increase from 2022. In a field where every decision impacts patient care and your bottom line, avoiding breaches and finding cost-saving strategies are essential. Here's our top 3 ways that implementing SRAs can help you achieve those goals. 1️⃣ PREVENT COSTLY BREACHES: 💡 Early Detection SRAs identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, helping to prevent potential breaches. 💡 Risk Mitigation Addressing vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood and potential impact of breaches, ultimately saving money in the long term. 2️⃣ REDUCE INSURANCE PREMIUMS: 💰 Prove Due Diligence Show insurers that you’re proactively managing risks. 💰 Negotiate Better Rates Use your SRA results to negotiate more favorable insurance terms. 3️⃣ AVOID UNNECESSARY COSTS: 🔒 Operational Efficiency SRAs often uncover inefficiencies, leading to cost savings in daily operations. 🔒 Regulatory Compliance Avoid costly HIPAA violations and associated fines. Which of these 3 have you seen the most cost-savings from since implementing SRAs? 💭

🎱Actionable Steps for Getting Started with Security Risk Assessments (SRAs) 1. Schedule a Kickoff Meeting Gather your team to discuss the importance of SRAs and outline the assessment process. This meeting sets the tone for collaboration and engagement. 2. Define Roles and Responsibilities Assign specific roles to team members, such as project lead, IT specialist, and compliance officer, to ensure accountability throughout the assessment. 3. Choose a Framework Select an SRA framework that aligns with your practice’s needs. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework or the HIPAA Security Rule can serve as excellent guides for your assessment. 4. Conduct a Preliminary Assessment Before diving into a full SRA, perform a preliminary review of your current security measures to identify obvious gaps and areas for improvement. 5. Document Findings As you conduct the assessment, keep detailed records of your findings, including identified vulnerabilities and the rationale behind your evaluations. 6. Create a Remediation Timeline Prioritize the vulnerabilities you’ve identified and create a timeline for addressing them. This will help you stay organized and focused on implementing necessary changes. 7. Train Your Staff Ensure that your team understands the importance of security and their role in protecting patient data. Regular training sessions can help reinforce a culture of security within your practice. 8. Establish a Review Process After implementing your action plan, set up a regular review process to assess the effectiveness of your security measures and adjust as needed. Which step do you find to be the most challenging part of the SRA process? 👇👇

Did you know that a significant number of HIPAA violation reports and subsequent audits stem from unsatisfied patients? One of the most common reasons for their dissatisfaction? 👉 Mishandled records. By prioritizing proper records management and privacy protocols, you're not only safeguarding your practice from fines, but also fostering positive relationships with those you serve. Be sure to ask yourself the following questions to improve both regulatory compliance and patient rapport.

Let's debunk a common healthcare myth right now: you don’t need to be a tech guru or have a huge budget to protect your practice from cyber threats. With a few simple, cost-effective cybersecurity strategies, you can strengthen your defenses and keep your patient data safe—all while staying compliant with HIPAA. Especially in an OCR audit year focused so heavily on the Security Rule, taking steps towards at least a few of these strategies could save you from heavy fines and data breaches. 1. Implement Continuous, Flexible Training 🍎 Offer employees short, weekly trainings on their own schedule to promoting adoption and minimizing administrative burden. (Our new HSN Teams App does just that. 😉) 2. Conduct Simulated Phishing Campaigns 🪝 Take training to the next level by providing hands-on practice identifying phishing attempts and real-time feedback to promote a culture of accountability. 3. Implement Strong Access Controls 🔒 Require strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and tailored permission levels. 4. Develop an Incident Response Plan 🚨 Define roles and responsibilities, document communication protocols, and perform regular tabletop exercises to stay prepared.

In an OCR audit year, it's extra important that we take a moment to reflect on all aspects of our current HIPAA compliance program. While our compliance analysts wrote these questions specifically with dentists in mind, they can be applied to most small practices. Documenting and educating staff on clear policies and procedures is key to avoiding these often overlooked privacy risks.

A friendly reminder that not only is it an Olympic year, but also an OCR audit year! Is your healthcare organization going for gold? 1. Security Risk Management: outlines what will be completed to ensure appropriate risk management. Includes SRA, responding to work plan recommendations, audit reviews, SAT, etc.   2. Incident Response Procedure: outlines what should occur when you determine you have had a breach. Includes your Security Incident Response Team & what organizations need to be notified.   3. Disaster Recovery Plan: outlines what to do after an event (breach, natural disaster, etc.), to get your organization back up and running normally. Includes 3 main parts: defining the Security Incident Response Team, defining Critical Systems, and a plan for how the SIRT is going to navigate the Critical Systems.   4. Sanction Policy: outlines the appropriate response for when an employee doesn’t adhere to a policy/procedure. This can vary from coaching to different types of warnings.   5. Termination Policy: outlines how former employees’ access will be severed upon their departure. We are rooting for you!!