January 16th, 2024
Healthcare cybersecurity incidents have more than doubled since 2018, while ransomware attacks have surged close to 300%. This tsunami of cybercrime has led to extensive care disruptions, patient safety risks, and an increased strain on the already overwhelmed healthcare sector.
December 15th, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force that promises to revolutionize the way care is delivered as we know it. From enhancing diagnostics and patient care to streamlining administrative tasks and contributing to medical research, its potential seems limitless.
However, with all of its promises, there are increasing concerns about the many risks, especially when it comes to the security of sensitive healthcare data.
December 1st, 2023
The rapid adoption of smart wearable technology among consumers has been fuelling growth across the industry. In fact, the U.S. wearable technology market was valued at 61 billion in 2022 and is expected to see significant growth of nearly 15% from 2023 to 2030.
November 16th, 2023
In Part 1 of our "How to Spot a Phishing Email" series, we identified what phishing is and how to spot it. In Part 2 of the series, we'll lay out some examples and guidance on what to do if phishing is suspected.
November 1st, 2023
Cybercriminals have been increasingly targeting the healthcare industry, and phishing is one of the most common ways that they try to gain access to healthcare networks and sensitive patient data. Recognizing and avoiding phishing emails is crucial to protecting patient data and maintaining the safety and integrity of healthcare systems.
October 2nd, 2023
In today’s digital era of instant messaging, healthcare professionals and organizations must consider the security and privacy aspects of the platforms they use to communicate with patients.
One very popular messaging app is WhatsApp, with an estimated 2.7 billion monthly active users. WhatsApp is used in healthcare settings for a variety of purposes.
September 1st, 2023
Healthcare continues to be the most expensive industry for data breaches, with costs increasing 53% since 2020, according to research conducted by the Ponemon Institute. In fact, the average cost of a healthcare data breach reached a whopping $11 million this year, and the number of healthcare data breaches have been on the rise nearly every year since 2009.
August 1st, 2023
Most healthcare workers are familiar with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and do their best to comply with HIPAA regulations. The majority of medical professionals understand that non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of patient trust. Yet still, the healthcare sector accounts for the highest number of security breaches compared to any other industry. In fact, in 2021 alone, approximately 45 million healthcare records were stolen or compromised.
July 14th, 2023
In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, for healthcare organizations and providers, navigating the world of social media can be complicated due to regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
May 15th, 2023
Most healthcare organizations and medical practices understand that Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created to safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and security of patients’ personal health information (PHI) and compliance is crucial to avoid legal penalties, financial losses, and reputational damage. However, still HIPAA-related incidents have been rapidly increasing over recent years.
May 2nd, 2023
Healthcare cyberattacks are on the rise, but according to one report, nearly a third of healthcare employees said they had never received cybersecurity training from their workplace.
March 1st, 2023
HIPAA compliance can be a complex subject. If not careful, you can quickly end up on the wrong side of the law. As a national leader in HIPAA safety and compliance training, we receive hundreds of questions regarding HIPAA regulation. So, we have collected seven of the most frequently asked questions and answers about HIPAA.
February 3rd, 2023
Most healthcare organizations, medical and dental practices are fully aware of the importance of HIPAA law and take all appropriate measures to protect their patient's health information. However, employees who are not up-to-date on HIPAA rules and regulations can sometimes put a healthcare facility at risk for a potential violation that could damage a practice's reputation and result in significant penalties or criminal and civil fines.
January 5th, 2023
The HIPAA Safe Harbor Act was signed into law by President Trump on January 5, 2021. The law states that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must consider whether organizations have utilized best practices for cybersecurity when investigating a data breach and undertaking HIPAA enforcement actions.
December 6th, 2022
If you work in healthcare, it's likely you are using social media in some way, shape or form. Healthcare organizations and medical practices utilize social media to engage with patients and consumers. Physicians and nurses research medical information through the internet and social media platforms. Hospitals use social media to supply patient information, announce news and events, further public relations and promote health.
November 7th, 2022
What is a HIPAA violation in the workplace?
A HIPAA violation occurs when a covered entity or business associate compromises an individual’s personal health information (PHI). This could be from a lack of awareness, training, or appropriate safeguards of PHI. Whether large or small, willful or negligent, HIPAA violations can be damaging to any hospital or medical practice and the patient or patients affected.
August 25th, 2022
Patients are incredibly concerned about healthcare data privacy, and rightly so. Healthcare data breaches have hit record numbers, and according to the U.S. government, in the last five months of 2022, breaches have almost doubled from the same period previous year. With nearly 20 million victims of data theft in the first half of the year, it is no wonder patients are worried about the lack of privacy.
July 19th, 2022
Although telemedicine has been around for decades, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that accelerated its rapid adoption. The demand for telehealth services surged at the beginning of the crisis as hospitals and healthcare providers rushed to implement technology solutions that could enable them to continue providing care for their at-risk patients remotely. Changes in reimbursement and healthcare regulation followed suit, and quickly this new healthcare delivery model became the new norm.
July 5th, 2022
Texting is a convenient and reliable way for healthcare organizations and providers to communicate with their patients. It is ideal for keeping up with appointments, reminders, payments, and other practice communications. While most people, including patients, prefer texting because it’s quick and easy, providers and their staff must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
May 24th, 2022
Most healthcare professionals are told that HIPAA is important and that there are severe consequences for noncompliance. However, there are often few discussions about why it is so important.