Maintaining HIPAA Compliance in system Security or EHR Replacement

MAINTAINING HIPAA COMPLIANCE IN SYSTEM SECURITY
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Institution
Introduction
The “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)”, was implemented by Congress in 1996. It specifically indicates who can have access or be responsible for the retrieval of a patient’s medical records. Apparently, the law laid down limits on the utilization and release of medical records and introduced a sequence of confidentiality principles for medical practitioners to follow HIPAA compliance. The HIPAA security and privacy requirements of a medical professional are essentially unaltered by transforming to Electronic Health Records (EHR), but might necessitate modification in Practice according to findings in Menachemi and Collum 2011)
Healthcare providers must inform patients about the confidentiality, privacy and security rights they are accustomed to and must also indicate the procedures and guidelines they undertake to meet requirements. (Wu, Ahn and Hu 2012) Since a medical professional is responsible for keeping medical records of a client, he or she has the right to access the original copies of the documents. With regard to HIPAA compliance, healthcare providers who store the records are allowed to charge patients access or retrieval fees that are sensible and vary widely. It is also important to realize that HIPAA does not forbid a retrieval fee.
Moreover, in the case of medical professionals who are covered entities, client approval is not necessitated for admission to another healthcare provider for treatment or payment.

The approval is not entailed for healthcare activities if the recipient is related to the patient and the information provided is used for review of performance, executing an evaluation of quality care, and detecting fraud. It is important for professionals to ensure the privacy of medical records and enhance the confidentiality of services provided to the clients. (Wu, Ahn and Hu 2012)
Patients and medical practitioners are supposed to be aware that security and privacy are much more than acquiring an HIPAA compliant Electronic Health Records (EHR). Therefore, the current modified HIPAA security law necessitates practitioners to review the security of storage systems that are computerized, applications, and systems that include patient information with reference to a list of 75 particular security measures. The measures consist of particular safeguards required to handle protected health information (PHI). With the insecurities available in the digital environment, it is vital for healthcare corporations to assess security forums to ensure that they have strategies, practices and security measures for sufficiently protecting the information of patients to avoid a crisis. (Ferran 2015)
With the rapid change in technology, HIPAA compliance systems are advancing at an alarming rate. Due to that healthcare organizations are supposed to update old procedures and policies consistently. Medical practitioners are expected to ensure that the systems with medical records of patients are updated more often to avoid challenges such as loss of data or information theft especially by hackers who are occasionally terrorizing healthcare organizations. The healthcare corporations are also supposed to provide effective training to employees on methods of keeping information that belongs to patients safe. The objective can be achieved by providing basic rules of safely storing information and establishing programs with professionals who will guide employees on the appropriate methods of enhancing safety as indicated in (Dyrda 2013)
With the current technological innovations, a variety of electronic tools have been manufactured for the purpose of handling large amounts of data and keeping information in an organized manner. Research has proved that the equipment is effective for storage of data that can get retrieved later and used by both the healthcare provider and patients. (Pereira 2010)
With the promises brought about by advanced technology equipment, healthcare organizations are encouraged and urged to establish such equipment for the purpose of storing information amongst other activities. Doing so will ensure that a patient’s information is accessible and safe so long as certain measures of security are achieved. Accomplishing such objectives enhance maintaining HIPAA compliance in the security system of Electronic health information (EHR). (Pereira 2010)
In conclusion, maintaining HIPAA compliance in security systems is essential for the purpose of providing reliable services to patients and clients. To accomplish that, various recommendations are necessary for the effective provision of services. For instance, healthcare organizations should ensure that their strategies and procedures go hand in hand with those of HIPAA compliance. Always alleviate and address any type of risk or vulnerability recognized during HIPAA risk analysis including a disaster revival plan, access to environments where Electronic Patient Health information (ePHI) is stored, and deficient security. Perform HIPAA security examination on a yearly basis. The objective is accomplished by involving a professional who can monitor and maintain your network and equipment to enhance security. Introduce workplace security which ensures that computers and equipment with the information of patients are not easily accessed by unauthorized personnel.

References
Alliance, S. C. (2003). HIPAA compliance and smart cards: “Solutions to privacy and security requirements.” “Online at http://www.Datakey.Com/resources/HIPAA_ Compliance_and_Smart_Cards_FINAL. Pdf”
Blogger, Guest. (2016). “Don’t Worry About HIPAA – When Your License Is At-Risk!” Healthcarescene.com. October 24, 2016
Dyrda, Laura. (2013) “9 Steps for ASCs to Achieve & Maintain HIPAA Compliance.”
Ferran, Tod. (2015). “Don’t confuse EHR HIPAA compliance with total HIPAA compliance.”
Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. H. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems. Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 4, 47-55.
Pereira, Pedro. (2010) “After EHR system implementation, maintenance, service questions remain.” Contributor
Wu, R., Ahn, G.-J., & Hu, H. (April 01, 2012). “Towards HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Systems in Cloud Computing.” “International Journal of Computational Models and Algorithms in Medicine (ijcmam)”, vol 3, no 2, pp. 1-22.
Annotated Bibliography
Alliance, S. C. (2003). HIPAA compliance and smart cards: “Solutions to privacy and security requirements.” “Online at http://www.Datakey.Com/resources/HIPAA_ Compliance_and_Smart_Cards_FINAL. Pdf”
The article shows ways of maintaining HIPAA compliance in security systems. It motivates medical practitioners and patients to utilize equipment with care to avoid security breaches. Efficient security and maintenance of systems are essential for the provision of healthcare services that are reliable and appealing to clients. The source is informative about ways of enhancing and maintaining HIPAA compliance in a security system.
Blogger, Guest. (2016). “Don’t Worry About HIPAA – When Your License Is At-Risk!” Healthcarescene.com.
The source provides information about the general concept of HIPAA compliance in security systems. It explains the experiences and conditions that a person can undergo if they are rendered vulnerable to security breaches. It portrays reasons that necessitate individuals to acquire security systems for keeping information about their personal life and health safe. From the source, you discover the benefits of ensuring license to work as a medical practitioner is authentic and updated. It encourages people to value security measures.
Dyrda, Laura. (2013) “9 Steps for ASCs to Achieve & Maintain HIPAA Compliance.”
The article presents the perspectives of HIPAA compliance in security systems or Electronic Health Records (EHR). It explains why it is important to follow protocols suggested by government institutions and security experts. It indicates steps that must be followed to achieve efficient security for medical records and health information. The source proves that the without appropriate and reliable security healthcare information is left vulnerable to theft and misuse.
Ferran, Tod. (2015). “Don’t confuse EHR HIPAA compliance with total HIPAA compliance.”
The article is essential to patients and practitioners because it provides valuable information about HIPAA compliance in security systems. It explains in detail the difference between various terms and healthcare information programs that are used in most organizations. It informs individuals about the importance of understanding diverse systems of security and how they function effectively to ensure security.
Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. H. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems. Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 4, 47-55.
The article is suitable for the information provided because it explains and shows the benefits of electronic health records. It shows the importance of establishing technological equipment in healthcare organizations because the large amounts of Data require sophisticated equipment for easy storage and retrieval. It indicates that information in health care is vital and vast thus sophisticated technological equipment is required to store it.
Pereira, Pedro. (2010) “After EHR system implementation, maintenance, service questions remain.” Contributor
The article is important because it indicates the importance of introducing and implementing an electronic health system to a healthcare organization. It explains the significance of equipment maintenance and repair on a regular occasion. It shows that if an organization does not take care of computerized tools and equipment meant for data storage, information could get stolen and manipulated to affect patients.
Wu, R., Ahn, G.-J., & Hu, H. (April 01, 2012). “Towards HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Systems in Cloud Computing.” “International Journal of Computational Models and Algorithms in Medicine (ijcmam)”, vol 3, no 2, pp. 1-22.
The source provides information about the necessity for HIPAA compliance in security systems. It explains the problems and challenges that a healthcare organization can experience if left vulnerable to a security breach. It portrays reasons that necessitate individuals to acquire security systems for keeping information about their personal life and health safe. From the source, you discover the benefits of establishing an effective security system with state of the art equipment. It encourages people to value security measures.