A breach is defined as the unauthorized acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of PHI which compromises the security or privacy of the information. HIPAA violations can have very serious consequences ranging from $100 – $50,000 per incident up to $1.5 Million. The best way to prevent a breach is to always keep PHI confidential and follow proper security practices. Some examples of breaches include:
- Viewing patient records without the “need to know”
- Sharing passwords
- Not shredding PHI and placing in a trash bin
- Posting PHI to social media
- Gossiping about patients to friends and family
- Losing a laptop or medical devices
- Texting patient information
- Accessing PHI from a home computer
- Not training your staff
Not sure about HIPAA or if your IT environment is secure? Let our team help!
