In our last post on safeguarding patient data, we discussed the opportunities and challenges facing healthcare companies with today’s increase focus on data, including the high stakes of a patient data security breach.
For every industry, there are multiple entities that proactively assist a corporation in their recognition and enforcement of government regulations and standards. Organizations can obtain accreditations and certifications to ensure compliance with all current and applicable government regulations and develop a constant working posture to seamlessly adapt when new guidelines emerge.
Beyond the required safeguards, here are 5 tips for maintaining a constant working posture for privacy:
- Create Data Experts – It’s always important to train associates, but when it comes to dealing with patient data, training is paramount and should be ongoing, with regular programs occurring on a monthly and annual basis.
- Set Up a “Command Center” – Coordination between all parties is key, necessitating a “command center” to ensure an efficient and streamlined flow of data collection, sharing and integration. Often, this role is played by a third-party organization, such as a contact center.
- Open Communication Channels – All parties need to be aligned when it comes to data sharing, which calls for open communication across multiple channels. Creating an open dialogue between all stakeholders is critical for successful data management.
- Enlist a Trusted Partner – With the high risks involved in dealing with patient data, it’s wise to enlist a trusted partner to provide expertise in a particular aspect of the data management process, or to serve as the “command center” mentioned above. Whoever an organization chooses as their partner, it must ensure they have a strong commitment to compliance and data security.
- Rely on Industry Accreditations – Industry accreditations help ensure that organizations are complying with the associated regulations. It’s a best practice to apply for all applicable accreditations to ensure full compliance, and to evaluate any and all partners based on those same accreditations— especially now that all business associates will also be held liable.
What methods does your organization employ to remain in a constant working posture for safe patient data? Please let us know in the comments.
