Workers in the healthcare field have privileged access to patient’s most intimate details. Protection of these details is paramount and has been ensured through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As the healthcare industry moves collectively towards more digital solutions for record keeping, patient information protection has become even more of a priority. While concerns about misplacement, destruction, or theft of physical files has decreased considerably, digital record keeping brings with it a host of possibilities for information to end up in the wrong hands. Over the past few years, cyber-attacks on hospital patient information systems have caused alarm and numerous complications. As a sentry to patient medical records, you must take steps to protect information that is in your care.
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Protecting Your Patients’ Information
At its most basic level, protecting patient information means making sure records are only viewed by those who are authorized to view them. This can take the form of:
- Securing physical files in locked containers and digital files with unique logins and passwords.
- Disposing of records with secure shredders
- Utilizing the best document scanner to transmit patient information.
- Keeping access devices secure at all times.
- Only Accessing information on an as-needed basis.
- Reporting any HIPAA violations.
Medical Records Scanner
Though digital records are becoming the norm, hard copies are still in circulation. It may be necessary to scan in records in order to digitize them or send them to other parties. A medical records scanner is the best solution for this task.
In the healthcare field, choosing equipment of any kind is not as simple as walking into the nearest office store and choosing the first device you lay your eyes on. There are several considerations to make when choosing equipment that is responsible for handling such private information.
Choosing the Right Scanner
When it comes to selecting a scanner for use in the healthcare field, special attention must be given to the device’s security specifications. You want a scanner that has built-in safeguards against cyber-attacks and tampering. It’s also necessary to make sure your scanner’s hardware and software are compatible with your information and operating systems. Incompatibility can cause security and functionality issues.
Functionality is also an important consideration for choosing a scanner. You want a device that will allow you to transmit records efficiently. Paperstream Capture is a scanner that allows for easy multipage scanning with high-resolution images. It allows large quantities of records to be sent clearly and swiftly. Cutting down on re-scanning and resending documents decreases the possibility that patient information ends up in the wrong hands.
Protecting patient information is not as complicated as it may appear. There are simple steps that anyone in the healthcare field can take to guard information against misuse. If you happen to be in charge of selecting equipment for housing, processing, and transmitting patient information, you hold a lot of power over how information is protected. Be sure to do extensive research into the equipment you intend to use. Above all, place security at the top of your list of priorities, and your patient information will remain in safe hands.
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