By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
    December 19, 2013
    IT Strategy for Health Plans: Interview with ikaSystems CEO Joe Marabito
    August 11, 2014
    A New Kind of Stress Test
    May 26, 2015
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Get Compliant or Get Out of the Game: HIPAA’s No Joke
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Medical Records > Get Compliant or Get Out of the Game: HIPAA’s No Joke
eHealthMedical RecordsPolicy & LawTechnology

Get Compliant or Get Out of the Game: HIPAA’s No Joke

onlinetech
onlinetech
Share
4 Min Read
HIPAA Cloud Hosting
SHARE

HIPAA Cloud HostingAttention hosting companies currently supporting healthcare clients: get compliant or get out of the game.

HIPAA Cloud HostingAttention hosting companies currently supporting healthcare clients: get compliant or get out of the game. For those still unaware, cloud hosting and other IT vendors involved with the storage or transmission of healthcare data must meet HIPAA compliance by…two days ago (September 23). So, by the end of the year, at least, for all you laggers. Here’s what happens if you are not compliant, and still continue to serve healthcare clients:

  • You may be subject to an audit conducted by the federal government;
  • You could pay some major fines;
  • You could lose a lot of business;
  • And if you suffer a data breach (of unencrypted data affecting 500 people or more), you will definitely be subject to all of the above.

And for covered entities (healthcare organizations that deal with protected health information (PHI)), if you’re hosting your data and/or applications with a non-compliant business associate (hosting provider), then you can also be held liable in the event of a data breach. Switch to an audited and compliant HIPAA hosting provider, and you’ll be in the safe zone (note: your organization also needs to maintain compliance; your IT vendor does not make you compliant by proxy).

Cloud vendors can’t really afford to take the risk of supporting healthcare clients without first ensuring they’re operating fully in compliance with HIPAA. And HIPAA is a lot more than just technical security – the standards also require administrative and physical security safeguards. A few examples include:

More Read

Hospitals not Leveraging Facebook
Majority of Seniors Want Digital Tools to Manage Their Health
CMS Chief Answers to Congress, Provides Few Details on Reform’s Early Progress
Genuine Hospital Content Can Generate New Patients
Why One-Size-Fits-All-Medicine Doesn’t Work

Administrative Security

  • Annual audits and reports indicate that business associates are maintaining ongoing compliance, not just a point-in-time
  • Documented policies and procedures should reflect protocol in the event of a data breach, including notification time
  • Staff training is specific to business associates and hosting providers on how to handle ePHI (electronic protected health information)

Physical Security

  • Limited and authorized personnel access to locked servers
  • Dual factor authentication for building access (we use biometrics; fingerprint ID + badges)
  • Environmental controls include logged surveillance cameras, 24×7 monitoring and multiple alarm systems

Technical Security

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest requires VPNs, SSL, two-factor authentication and hardware-based storage encryption
  • Daily log review tracks user activity and analyses them to identify any potential issues and patterns
  • Vulnerability scanning checks for outdated versions of software, web apps that aren’t securely coded, and misconfigured networks

And so much more! The point is, HIPAA compliance is a little more complex as it involves assessing unique organizational structures to ensure there are no security gaps, as well as ongoing maintenance for complete data protection. And if you’re currently using a non-compliant hosting provider to host patient data, you’d better find a new one that is compliant…like yesterday.

TAGGED:dataHIPAAPrivacy
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Engaging Specialty Practices in the Patient Centered Medical Neighborhood

March 24, 2013

AMA Meets at Policy Confab, Preps Vote on Reform Provision

June 20, 2011
Health carePublic Health

The Trends In The Pharmaceutical Industry That Matter Most

August 21, 2019
Public HealthWellness

Are Organic Foods Healthier?

September 24, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?