The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 was designed to introduce healthcare standards that protect patients' rights and privacy. Compliance with the act is a requirement and a strategic advantage for healthcare providers who must safeguard patients’ protected health information (PHI) while providing comprehensive care.
Investing in HIPAA compliant security guarantees that a healthcare company can remain secure, efficient, and competitive, giving them the opportunity to earn their patients’ trust. Moreover, HIPAA compliance allows patients (and healthcare organizations) to focus on health, encouraging better patient outcomes.
According to a National Library of Medicine (NLM) publication on measuring chronic care delivery with patient experiences, “Improving care integration processes and communication between healthcare providers and their patients may lead to improved clinical outcomes.” While focusing on chronic care, the article touches upon the importance of patient experiences and, ultimately, patient outcomes. Improved patient outcomes matter in healthcare because, for patients, they can lead to better quality of life, greater satisfaction with their health, and, in the end, reduced healthcare costs.
Understanding their rights under HIPAA can help patients make informed decisions about their care and treatment plans. Healthcare organizations, therefore, should want to work toward compliance, improving patient care and, with it, patient engagement. Healthcare providers must empower patients to be active participants in their personal health.
Learn about: Assessing patient engagement metrics in HIPAA compliant emails
The HIPAA Act affirms that patients are granted particular rights. Such rights give patients control over their PHI, that is, information identifying an individual, such as a name, address, or health condition. HIPAA standardizes using security practices to secure personal health information with controls and safeguards.
HIPAA’s rules and amendments work seamlessly to keep patients safe and protected. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes the national requirements for protecting individuals' sensitive data. Then, the Security Rule focuses on the safeguards that healthcare organizations should implement to secure electronic PHI (ePHI).
From the patient’s perspective, it means that healthcare organizations and their business associates protect their sensitive information, keeping it confidential. It also means that patients have better control over how their PHI is used. Overall, HIPAA gives patients the power to make decisions in their personal healthcare journeys.
Healthcare organizations must learn how to prioritize their cybersecurity measures to protect patients. Enhanced patient satisfaction can be reached through clear communication, consistency, accessibility, and HIPAA compliance.
HIPAA compliance refers to healthcare organizations adhering to HIPAA. A HIPAA compliant organization fulfills HIPAA’s requirements by making a concerted effort to protect patients and itself from data theft and/or a data breach. Providers must be HIPAA compliant, ensuring sensitive patient information is protected from unauthorized access and data breaches.
Cybersecurity is a fundamental part of HIPAA compliance, and key components of compliance are the Security Rule’s physical, technical, and administrative safeguards. The idea is for healthcare organizations to prioritize data security and avoid HIPAA violations and the penalties that come with them. These include large financial penalties, reputation damage, loss of business, and negative publicity. Moreover, a PHI breach could result in a lengthy class-action lawsuit, as we have seen against Frontier Communications and Atlanta Women’s Health Group.
HIPAA compliance involves a variety of measures to ensure the protection of PHI. Components of a HIPAA compliant healthcare organization include:
Such measures safeguard patient data and enhance a healthcare organization’s overall security posture, protecting it and patients from cyber threats. The idea behind HIPAA compliance is to protect PHI, ensure individuals have appropriate legal rights, and hold the healthcare industry accountable.
See also: HIPAA compliant email: The definitive guide
Adhering to HIPAA standards helps providers protect patient privacy, thus promoting a trusting patient-provider relationship. Such trusting relationships encourage frequent communication, improved patient engagement, and more active patients. Ultimately, HIPAA compliance and this trust lead to better patient outcomes.
What can patients get from HIPAA compliance and focused healthcare organizations?
What can healthcare organizations get from HIPAA compliance and focused patients?
Patients are more likely to choose providers that demonstrate HIPAA compliance because it empowers patients and keeps their information safe with strong cybersecurity measures.
A study published in the Patient Experience Journal notes, “When patients feel valued they are likely to be more understanding of clinic practices that accommodate real-time demands.” Healthcare providers who listen attentively and explain medical information help patients understand their needs and the options available to them. A collaborative approach shifts healthcare by letting patients behave as active participants in their care.
A strong patient-provider relationship is a strategic approach to managing healthcare dealings. Through personalization and open communication, healthcare organizations can enhance patient engagement directly and improve patient outcomes.
HIPAA requires strict control over patients’ PHI with HIPAA compliance. A strong cybersecurity strategy helps healthcare organizations meet regulatory requirements and avoid legal consequences. By implementing strong cybersecurity practices, healthcare organizations can prevent breaches and keep patients safe while focusing on patient care.
Here's a list of what healthcare organizations can do to avoid costly penalties and focus on compliance.
Learn more about patient outcomes:
HIPAA safeguards PHI, which includes any information that can identify a patient and relates to their health condition or treatment.
Yes, being HIPAA compliant can attract more patients and business partners, differentiating an organization from its competitors.
Encryption converts the content of the email into a form that is only accessible to the authorized recipient and not any other person or system. It prevents unauthorized access, upholding HIPAA regulations.