HIPAA Compliance: Why IT consultants are an organization’s best partner

Partnering with an IT consultant for assistance with HIPAA compliance is ideal because of HIPAA’s emphasis on protecting ePHI data. The right partner will help your organization understand and comply with all areas of HIPAA; however, the HIPAA Security Rule is a specific reason why you want to partner with an IT consultant. The HIPAA Security Rule is segmented into three safeguards and complying with each safeguard will require technical expertise. The three safeguards are as follows:

Technical Safeguards:

Access Controls

Examples: Creating a timed logout policy, Creating password policies

Encryption of information outside your firewall

Examples: Encrypting outbound emails containing ePHI, Encrypting hard drives for laptops containing ePHI, Ensuring users have a secure connection to the office’s network

Logging

Example: Maintain date-stamped data providing insights into which users accessed ePHI and what the users did with it

Physical Safeguards:

Facility Access Controls

Policies and procedures for mobile devices

Example: Utilizing a centralized mobile device management tool to enforce policies/procedures on users’ devices

Administrative Safeguards:

Conducting risk assessments
Employee training

Restricting 3rd-party access

HIPAA compliance is an ongoing process with no finish line for covered entities and their business associates. This makes it necessary to form an ongoing partnership with an IT consultant capable of helping your organization comply with HIPAA and, most importantly, protect the PHI and ePHI data entrusted to you.

The Walker Group supports our clients with their HIPAA compliance needs. Our services entail audits, implementation of/changes to existing technology and providing employees with training content. Please contact us today for more information regarding HIPAA compliance.

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