Talking about a patient in a public area where others can hear you is a HIPAA violation. When you're discussing a patient's information on the phone, you need to be in a private place where others can't hear you. If you're looking for a new EHR software, you learn what to look for here.Īnother potential HIPAA violation that's easily overlooked is discussing information over the phone. This is part of why it's so important to have a good EHR. Hackers can easily obtain that information. Skype is another way clinic employees frequently communicate about patients, but the same problems apply. Texting isn't the only common kind of communication that's a HIPAA violation. Passing Patient Information Through Skype or Zoom. You can also learn more about the features of our EMR here.Ħ. If you're looking for a new EMR, we'll give you a free demo here. Check with your EMR provider to see what can be done to make your communications compliant. But the problem here is that it needs to be installed on the wireless device of both parties, and it rarely is.Ī good electronic medical record (EMR) software will provide ways for clinicians to transfer such information efficiently and in accordance of HIPAA. There are programs that encrypt the information which allow it to be texted without concern. And legally, you're required to report those violations. If you do and you're caught, it can be a 5k fine per violation per text. You can't put a patient's name or information in a text. While texting patient information may seem fast and effective, it also gives hackers the ability to get their information. Training all new employees on your policy and hold quarterly trainings to keep it fresh in all employees' minds. Trainings should be held regularly to make sure all employees, old and new, are well aware of your policy. When such a breach occurs, you need to have a plan on how to appropriately handle it. Employees who are properly trained on how to avoid HIPAA violations are much less likely to make such mistakes. You need to establish policies that ensure patients' information is protected and kept confidential at all times. One of the best ways to avoid a HIPAA violation is to train your employees with the proper policy. A password doesn't do any good if the laptop is left open and logged in while you go do something else. To safeguard against this, any device containing PHI should be password protected. Be sure to lock down any device with PHI once you're done using it. If an item containing PHI, such as a laptop or smartphone, is lost or stolen, that's also considered a HIPAA violation and can result in a hefty fine. This can result in the clinician accidentally leaving the record in the patient's room, resulting in another patient seeing it. Patient records should always be kept in a locked space so they can't be stumbled upon by others. This frequently occurs when a clinic uses paper records or charts. Mishandling patient records is one of the most common HIPAA violations. Medical Records Falling into the Wrong Hands There's no reason to share such information with anyone else.Ģ. Also, employees should only discuss patient information in private places and only with other medical personnel. Employees can't share patient information with friends, family members, third-party vendors or organizations. Employees talking about patients to coworkers or friends is a HIPAA violation that can land you in a world of hurt. Patient information needs to be kept private. Now that you know what a HIPAA violation is, we're going to give you 26 examples so you can avoid making these mistakes. Some of the most common types of protected health information for patients include names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. It's when there's a breach of HIPAA protected health information, also known as PHI. What is a HIPAA violation? It's a failure to comply with "any aspect of HIPAA standards," according to HIPAA Journal. So, it goes without saying that it's incredibly important to avoid them. Compliance is critical for behavioral health facilities.Ī single HIPAA violation can result in a fine of up to $50,000 to the provider and a potential loss of license. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects patients' privacy, prevents fraud and protects personal health information.
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