Only the management of the healthcare business is not responsible for maintaining HIPAA compliance. Staff, stakeholders, business associates, and other elements can also prevent or cause violations.
Employees not only need to have required training, but they also need to implement those concepts in real-life situations.
Most HIPAA compliance violations are triggered by employees and staff members. In a busy environment, they tend to ignore SOPs for safely handling the PHI. Data and information records of patients are confidential, and a little mistake by the relevant handler can open doors for hackers and unauthorized individuals.
Role of Employees in Maintaining Compliance
Healthcare organizations are responsible not only for delivering care but also for protecting the sensitive information of their patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the national standard for the security and privacy of protected health information (PHI).
Do your employees fully understand the concept of Protected Health Information (PHI)? In certain circumstances, PHI can be disclosed to authorized parties and business associates. Have you trained them to maintain the safety of data for these collaborative efforts?
HIPAA Training for Staff
Digitization of health records and other aspects of communication has made electronic devices crucial for carrying out daily tasks. Healthcare technologies and communication devices require adequate training for safe application. Professional training sessions and testing efforts ensure that staff members are fully equipped with the right skills and knowledge to prevent violations.
Without professional training and testing, you cannot expect your staff to strengthen HIPAA compliance. ComplianceJunction provides the best HIPAA training available for employees and other staff members of all levels. Not having the required learning environment for the employees can lead to serious legal troubles and penalties.
Staff should remain vigilant because they are the key players in maintaining compliance and strengthening the security of the organization. Data is the new currency in the modern age and a simple data breach can put an entire organization and stakeholders at risk.
Positive Approach to Prevent Noncompliant Behavior
HIPAA compliance officers always try to prevent violations of HIPAA and maintain a safe environment for handling patient records. There are different technological approaches and solutions implemented in the healthcare business to deter staff from violating the rules. However, the approach to control noncompliant behavior should not negatively impact the morale of employees.
A more positive approach not only motivates staff to strengthen HIPAA compliance and security but also develops a culture of respect. Improper disclosure and use of PHI is the biggest issue related to HIPAA compliance. Nurses, staff, and other employees are not going to learn these SOPs on their own.
Staff compliance training should meet industry standards—accreditation helps ensure that. These impermissible disclosures of Protected Health Information happen because employees fail to understand the concept of what’s included in PHI.
How Staff Can Strengthen HIPAA Compliance and PHI Security
Doctors are not the only employees having access to PHI and other records. From nurses to administrative teams, every employee under the banner of an organization adds value to the compliance posture. A single mistake, such as discussing patient information in a public area or clicking on a phishing link, can result in serious breaches, legal consequences, and loss of patient trust.
When trust is broken, it is the first step towards the failure of a healthcare business. Regular training sessions for the employees cost less than usual fines for HIPAA violations. HIPAA compliance classes ensure that your employees have the required tools and knowledge to properly handle the data of patients.
Comprehensive HIPAA Training
The bedrock of staff-driven HIPAA compliance is thorough and ongoing training. It’s not enough to simply provide a one-time overview. Continuous education is essential to keep pace with regulatory updates and emerging threats. DIY sessions only provide an overview of what employees should do in certain situations. Important concepts like:
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Security Rule
- Breach Notification Rule
Remain undiscussed due to lack of supervision of the trained professionals. These rules help staff members understand what PHI is and how to handle this information. If something goes wrong, who must be informed? A training session by a relevant service provider can help build a safer environment for the patients in your organization.
High-quality HIPAA training should also be role-specific. For example, the job descriptions of IT professionals differ from those of clinical staff or front-office workers. Tailoring the training to fit job responsibilities ensures that employees understand how HIPAA applies to their unique functions.
Can you achieve this level of training without the help of experts? Getting your employees in training sessions is not easy and professional HIPAA trainers have the right tools and strategies to conduct these sessions.
Security-first Culture in the Organization
HIPAA compliance is not just checking items on a list, but it is a continued commitment. Security-first culture should be reflected in every part of daily operations. Leadership should not only promote this culture, but their own actions should reflect their personal commitment to the cause. Even if something goes wrong or someone is committing any type of misconduct, employees should be comfortable reporting the incident to upper management.
Regular security updates and lessons need to be shared with the employees. In the overall process of maintaining HIPAA compliance, effective communication is the most important part. Every employee is an active participant in the play and his role is important, ensuring the success of the whole organization.
Steps to Empower Staff in Healthcare Business
Training sessions will not have a significant impact if employees are not willing to be personally involved in the process. Testing ensures learners engage with HIPAA training and earn a certificate. These certificates get freshers and existing employees job-ready for better positions in the organization. Here are some practical steps that can help staff improve the compliance posture of a healthcare provider.
1. Safely Storing Physical Files
Almost every business has moved to online platforms and tools, but hard copies remain an important part of the business. Strict handling of the physical files is also important to prevent possible violations of HIPAA. Staff must be trained in secure disposal methods (shredding). They should also ensure proper storage in locked cabinets and avoid leaving physical PHI unattended in public areas.
2. Following the Access Controls
The minimum necessary access principle can save the organization and employees from potential troubles. This principle requires individuals to access extremely necessary information only. This way, the chances of data breach remain minimal, and business operates as usual. Accessing important information or browsing through random files out of curiosity can lead to potential HIPAA compliance violations.
3. Network and Device Security
Unsecured networks and personal devices at the workplace can lead to data breaches. Organizations have strict security protocols for the official devices. When employees access or view important data on their personal mobile devices, it can be a security hazard. Employees should be trained in data encryption and establishing secure connections to view and access PHI remotely.
4. Multi-factor Authentication and Strong Passwords
The human element is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Everyone can make mistakes but there should be some system in place to prevent the damage caused by these mistakes. If someone has access to your password, there should be 2FA in place. Receiving an OTP or security token for any login attempt can keep your data safe against unauthorized access to any account.
5. Incident Reporting
Every employee must know the clear protocol for reporting a potential security incident or breach. Even if the issue seems negligible and small, it must be reported. These little issues lead to full-scale data breaches in different healthcare settings. Timely reporting allows organizations to investigate, mitigate damage, and comply with breach notification requirements.
Who Needs HIPAA Compliance Training- Final Words
Covered entities, and business associates including health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers, those who handle PHI and other elements of business operations need HIPAA training. 88% of the data breaches in the medical sector are caused by poor handling of PHI by employees. HIPAA training can potentially prevent these issues that might impact your business.
A well-informed and security-conscious workforce is the most potent asset in safeguarding patient privacy and maintaining trust in the healthcare system. Professional trainers are empowering healthcare teams to protect patient privacy with confidence and competence.
HIPAA training is not just a formality to add fancy certification but it benefits patients and healthcare providers. Without properly trained staff, you are inviting financial, legal, and other penalties. Once training is complete, include quizzes and certificates to confirm HIPAA training effectiveness. Without testing the real-time readiness of your staff, you may prevent violations, but it will not improve the trust between healthcare providers and patients.