Why Your Practice Needs to Prioritize Risk Assessment

The word “HIPAA” is so commonplace these days that you may not give HIPAA compliance much thought. You may be fairly confident you’re doing all the right things to stay compliant. But, without a full grasp of HIPAA requirements and whether you’re fulfilling them all, are you actually staying HIPAA complacent? The results could be devastatingly costly.  

HIPAA compliance involves a wide range of practice security and privacy requirements. It also requires an understanding of what you can and can’t do with protected health information (PHI). For example, fines in the tens of thousands of dollars, along with Corrective Action Plans, have been issued for breaches such as ‘disposing’ of thousands of patient records by abandoning them in boxes by a dumpster.

Practices have also been held to account for impermissibly disclosing ePHI on review websites and social media. To prevent these and a host of other potential violations, a HIPAA risk assessment or security risk analysis needs to be an essential part of your security strategy.

Quick Links

• Why HIPAA Compliance Is More Important Now Than Ever
• The Benefits of HIPAA Compliance
• What is a HIPAA Risk Assessment for Dental Practices?
• What is a Security Risk Analysis (SRA) for Medical Practices?
• Why a SRA or HIPAA Risk Assessment is Vital for Your Medical or Dental Practice
• Practice Software to Decrease Your Compliance Risks

Why HIPAA Compliance Is More Important Now Than Ever

Prior to the introduction of HIPAA, patient data and Electronic Health Records (EHR) were a huge target for data thieves because those records include the Protected Health Information that makes identity theft possible. That truth hasn’t changed. However, enforcement has changed. In addition to fines that can cripple a practice, HIPAA violations are publicly accessible through the government’s HIPAA Wall of Shame. Anyone, including your patients, can find out if you’ve violated HIPAA rules.

While HIPAA Laws went into effect in 1996, enforcement wasn’t introduced until 2003, and then became even more targeted in 2009. The primary reason many practices prioritize HIPAA compliance is a fear of the fines associated with non-compliance. Of particular note is the minimum penalty for practices that fail to exercise due diligence.  In 2022, minimum penalties increased. Further, yearly penalty caps have increased to nearly $2 million. Lack of awareness is not an excuse for non-compliance.

The Benefits of HIPAA CompliancE

One of the biggest benefits realized by HIPAA compliance is the nurturing of patient-caregiver relationships and trust. HIPAA compliance and a strong security culture help practitioners and practices build the kind of relationships that free patients to discuss health care concerns and experiences truthfully and honestly. As a result, outcomes improve because caregivers receive all the data they need to make informed care choices and fully developed treatment plans.

It’s no secret that good outcomes, good recommendations, and trustworthy practitioners are among the top reasons patients choose a caregiver. Your practice’s HIPAA compliance has a direct impact on those factors.

What is a HIPAA Risk Assessment for Dental Practices?

While risk assessments are required, they should also be desired by any organization that values the security and safety of your patients’ PHI. Given the overall importance of HIPAA compliance, dental practices must understand what their risks are, where they or their patient data is vulnerable, and how to address those concerns. A HIPAA risk assessment from a qualified team evaluates your practice’s adherence to the administrative, physical, and technical protections needed to safeguard your patient data. 

What is a Security Risk Analysis (SRA) for Medical Practices?

For medical practices, a security risk analysis (SRA) is the required assessment to ensure HIPAA compliance. Much like the risk assessment, the goal is to identify where and how any  PHI is stored, who has access, and what security mechanisms are in place to ensure its safety. In that same vein, the goal is to help medical practices address any security vulnerabilities that ensure not just HIPAA adherence but also patient privacy.

Why a SRA or HIPAA Risk Assessment is Vital for Your Medical or Dental Practice

HIPAA regulations set a standard that your medical or dental practice must meet. Obviously, the financial consequences of cybersecurity lapses in your practice can be significant and long lasting, but the consequences also impact your patients and your reputation. However, you cannot truly recognize the risk without an assessment.

Risk assessments are like a routine physical examination or dental checkup. They provide a touchpoint for existing security health and provide a pathway to making improvements. More specifically, they include:

• Analysis of data storage and transmission mechanisms (email security)
• Threat identification and risk in the current security landscape
• Review current security applications and precautions
• Calculate the potential impact of a security incident
• Map out a remediation plan and target next steps

• Education on permissible uses and disclosures of PHI 

Practice Software to Decrease Your Compliance Risks

HIPAA Risk Assessments and SRAs are just the first step in your compliance journey. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving and staff turnover in the medical and dental industries  means your response to HIPAA compliance and security must remain agile, flexible, and scalable. That’s where iCoreConnect comes in.

Not only do we offer comprehensive security support via our healthcare workflow platforms, but our team of experts is prepared to review, revise, and advise, ensuring you are and remain HIPAA compliant and able to respond to security needs and threats. iCoreHIPAA is a cloud-based risk assessment tool that provides:

• Detailed explanations, definitions, and examples regarding your security risks
• An audit-ready final report with recommended, risk-stratified remediation actions
• Dashboard tools so you can assign tasks to team members

In addition we provide a variety of additional tools that enable us to scale security support to meet your needs. If you’re ready to talk about how iCoreConnect can help support your medical or dental practice needs, book a demo today and let’s advance your digital transformation.