The Importance of Data Security in EHRs
Over the last few decades, there has been exponential progress in the use of technology in healthcare and healthcare. The medical profession uses technology in a variety of ways, including imaging techniques for diagnosis. Electronic health records; robotics in surgical procedures; telehealth to reduce barriers and boundaries between patients in terms of distance and time; and wearable devices for monitoring the health of individuals. The use of open data sources is also useful in the field of genomics. Where data related to genetic makeup, biomarkers, and bioinformatics are used to derive better therapeutic solutions. In this article we are going to discuss about Importance of Data Security in EHRs. So keep reading carefully all points.
Importance of Data Security In EHRs
The healthcare industry is rapidly adopting new technologies. This is especially true for information technology, which is used to hold up both doctors and patients. The basic element of the hospital information system is the electronic health record (EHR), where information about the patient, including protected health information, is stored. In addition, hospital administrative and financial staff use countless other applications to monitor hospital performance in terms of financial efficiency and treatment success.
Government and federal organisations also use IT solutions to monitor the quality and safety of healthcare organisations’ operations. And of course, there are plenty of apps that patients use to monitor vital signs. And communicate with doctors via mobile and wireless technology.
Modern technologies such as cloud, mobile, and next-generation databases are used to manage, store and access this data. And the biggest challenge that the healthcare sector has faced recently is the security of healthcare data.
Data Encryption:
With cyber security concerns on the rise, encryption can keep your data safe. First, it permits only authorised users to access sensitive data. And second, it protects against data violation, whether the data is in transit or at rest.
EHR solutions can encode information in a way that only authorised users and programs can read. This makes the transmission of sensitive patient data, such as test results or referral medical history, much more secure than archaic paper records.
Encryption also reduces potential damage if data is stolen. It also enables role-based access control – that way, only authorised employees can view the decrypted data.
Adopt a Zero Trust Security Model:
The concept of zero-trust security models suggests that they should not. Zero-trust security models are based on the idea that everything, whether it comes from inside or outside the organisation, requires authentication before it can connect to the organisation’s system. This approach cuts off access to IP addresses, devices, and equipment until identities are verified and usage authorised.
So this is also in Importance of Data Security in EHRs.
The growing use of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), applications, and services in healthcare manufacturing makes it nearly impossible for security teams to have full clarity of all data packets traversing an organisation’s network. But by stopping applications or services for authentication, the zero-trust model helps network teams understand what’s on their networks and what wants to get onto them. This permits them to better assess risks and locate malicious activity.
Data Wiping:
The use of big data requires huge storage capacities. The more information you have to store, the harder it is to manage. However, if you back up, archive data, and dispose of files you no longer need. You save resources and increase data security in healthcare software.
Passwords Protection:
This may seem obvious, but it goes far beyond requiring users to create secure alphanumeric passwords. Because patient records restrain sensitive information, any successful EHR should offer the following:
- If the password is entered incorrectly more than five times, the EHR should have an option to lock it out.
- Passwords should consist of alphanumeric characters, uppercase, and special characters.
- The mandatory password is reset at regular intervals.
- Five security questions or one-time passwords to authenticate users after entering a password.
- Two-factor authentication is a secondary layer of security.
Passwords have quite a lot of room for human error. Although patients don’t like to admit it, they don’t always record and remember their passwords securely.
So this is also in Importance of Data Security in EHRs.
Transfer of Electronic Health Records:
During EHR transfer, your stored data is more vulnerable to hacker attacks. Deposit information can be easily copied by third parties. And maybe lost during the transfer process due to system instability.
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Benefits of Data Security in EHRs
Advances in digital technology mean that today patient records are kept on servers and computers. And storage devices rather than on paper in filing cabinets. All of this information is accessed, updated, and recorded. And shared between multiple devices and healthcare providers.
A robust data security strategy can do more than just secure healthcare data from cyber threats. It also plays a key role in controlling malicious and careless insider threats which are the main cause of data loss.
Safe Harbor for the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule:
According to HIPAA, data encryption is an effective security measure to protect PHI. After a breach, healthcare organisations do not need to notify affected individuals if the information has been properly encrypted. This is because encrypted data cannot be used by unauthorised persons, creating a safe harbour for breach notification requests.
So this is also in Importance of Data Security in EHRs.
Better care outcomes:
According to the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), cyber-attacks have a direct impact on patient mortality. An attack on a healthcare organisation’s network can make patient records inaccessible, disrupt communications, and delay treatment and testing. Prioritising data security is an effective way to ensure the continuous delivery of quality care.
Increased awareness of cyber security:
The data security policy ensures that all employees are educated on the value and importance of health data security to detect and respond to fraudulent behaviour. This is especially important for smaller health systems and specialty clinics, which often lack the level of security, personnel, and budget for robust cybersecurity defences.
Conclusion
Data security is the step of tackling unofficial access to digital data such as digital health records. Data security in the healthcare industry protects devices from cybersecurity threats, data breaches, and other security challenges.
So this is also in Importance of Data Security in EHRs.
Patient information may be unguarded to theft, fraud, terrorism, and natural disasters as a result of these risks and hacking efforts. As the healthcare industry has evolved, health information management has moved from physical patient files to cloud-based alternatives. Since electronic health records contain sensitive personal health information such as medical history, diagnoses, and treatments, it is important to ensure the security and confidentiality of this data.
