5 EHR Security Measures that Alleviate Privacy Concerns

Healthcare is evolving, with many new advancements happening in the field. Multi-specialty hospitals and single practices use state-of-the-art tools to improve patient care. It has become common for doctors to use electronic health record software (EHR) for notes, improving patient care and increasing physician efficiency. Although EHRs make maintaining medical records more efficient for practices, they also raise certain security and privacy concerns. EHR systems are designed to protect patient privacy and prevent data breaches, making it crucial for physicians to adopt them. Any reluctance to adopt EHR systems will directly violate HIPAA regulations.

This article reviews the essential features of EHR systems that serve to protect patients. Let's take a look at these features and understand how they alleviate privacy concerns:

HIPAA and HITECH

HIPAA and HITECH are regulations that protect health information and ensure patients' rights to their health information. HIPAA guidelines enable patients to access their medical data, make corrections, and file complaints when necessary. While HIPAA and HITECH guidelines cover paper-based and electronic health records and are a good baseline, additional security protocols may be necessary for specific practices. Vendors go beyond certification requirements to address the distinctive security concerns of different healthcare organizations. For instance, electronic health records (EHRs) now offer bank-level (SSL) encryption for secure data exchange, ensuring data transmission over the internet via an encrypted algorithm.

Audit Trails

Audit trails are pivotal in healthcare systems to track every action taken with patients' information. They are designed in a way that enables them to record who accesses the system, their location, when they access it, and their actions. After that, this recorded data is logged in the Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, allowing users to review it regularly and flag suspicious activities. Regular reviews can help correct human error-related mistakes that could be flagged as HIPAA violations. Audit trails provide all the relevant information on patient data, who retrieved it, and where it was accessed. EHR software can also notify patients when their information is accessed, allowing them to report security breaches without delay. Without audit trails, healthcare organizations would have to manually record and review every entry in every patient's record, making them more vulnerable to security breaches.

Data Encryption

Encryption is a crucial aspect of EHR solutions and helps protect sensitive patient data, such as test results or medical histories, from unauthorized access and security breaches. EHR solutions can code information in a way that can only be read by authorized users. This makes data transfers more secure than traditional paper records. Encryption also reduces potential damage in cases of data theft and enables role-based access control, allowing only authorized employees to view decrypted data. If an EHR vendor does not offer encryption, think twice before choosing their service because unencrypted data is not something you should be willing to risk. HIPAA certification does not require EHR products to encrypt data, but it is a must-have feature of any EHR solution. Medical practices are most at risk when transferring data, as treatment plans, prescriptions, and referrals require encryption to prevent unauthorized access and tampering.

ONC-ATCB Certified

The government mandates that EHR systems must have certain features. Physicians are asked to get their chosen system ONC-ATCB certified to ensure compliance. The software must have been tested and approved by an authorized testing and certification body recognized by the Office of the National Coordinator. If the system is ONC-ATCB certified, it can be evaluated further. Platforms are evaluated on three checkpoints: interoperability, functionality, and security. These criteria cover approximately 400 criteria, ensuring the system has been thoroughly scrutinized. If the system is not certified, it may not be eligible for governmental reimbursement programs, putting patient data at risk and causing a loss in the financial benefits the government offers. Therefore, choosing a certified EHR system ensures that the software meets the requirements of the healthcare organization.

Password Protection

Password protection in EHR is an unparalleled measure that ensures data privacy. It involves creating secure alpha-numeric passwords, requires regular password resets, and uses alpha-numeric, capitalized, and special characters in the passwords. Passwords should also have two-factor authentication as a secondary layer of security. A study found that 73% of physicians and staff have used a co-worker's password to access an EHR, violating password security protocols. Although best practices in password protection include creating complex passwords, if the system does not require complex passwords, users are not forced to change their passwords, making it easier for outsiders to access patient information. By adopting these best practices, EHR solutions can help protect patient information and ensure the security of patient records.

Conclusion

Now that you know the multifaceted built-in features of an EHR system, you can start researching products to find a suitable system for your practice. Always conduct a security risk assessment first, and ensure that your EHR system has all the security measures discussed above. The assessment will reveal the current security measures in the EHR system, the likelihood of potential threats, and their impact.

Once you know the potential threats, you can decide whether to adopt a new EHR system or create stronger best practices for your team. If you are looking for customized EHR services, contact the experts at OSP.

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