Posted: February 22nd, 2022

Safeguards Protect Against Security Threats

Safeguards Protect Against Security Threats
Introduction
The use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has transformed the way health facilities operate and conduct patients care over the years. EHRs have multiple benefits, including enhancing, recording, and ensuring that information storage is more secure. Most organizations find it challenging to implement and invest in electronic health records due to the substantial cost (Cathy Menkiena et al., 2018). The paper is a report addressing electronic health records and health IT risk assessment and the use of EHR safeguards within Florida MIS Radiology.
Risk Assessment Regarding EHRs and Health IT
Florida MIS radiology is afraid to introduce the use of electronic health records and health IT due to data breach issues. The health care practice needs to asses risks regarding the use of electronic health records to ensure security is achieved and avoid disclosure and unauthorized access to medical information. Assessment of information technology involves checking on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the systems. Health IT and EHR are assessment ensure that no security issues or disruptions.
Florida MIS facility can ensure the integrity of the systems through checking whether the orders have been tampered with in a way that could interfere with data protection. Ensure the confidentiality of the systems where information stored in the information systems is not compromised; for instance, medical treatment and medical condition of patients—availability of the electronic health records through how accessible the orders will be in case of need. Additionally, availability entails usability, for instance, the functionality of the systems where the damaged or worn out systems are replaced in case of an issue.
Every risk identified in the information system is mitigated by addressing the issues identified through the development of new policies. For instance, in case of a data breach, organizations establish data encryption on all systems used as well as the use of a complex password to active accounts. Other policies include putting restrictions on who is supposed to access medical data, for instance, how the information can be transferred to the patient as well as when to provide the information.
Nevertheless, to avoid security issues in the information systems, Florida MIS radiology should keep track of security policies used as well as ensure policies are regularly updated to prevent future security issues and data breach. The trivial scheduling system is essential to enable the organization plan ahead of time by considering several factors. First, it is regarded as a valuable implementation as it enhances confidentiality, integrity, and availability of medical health records. The system also provides better quality services and improve visibility in different departments.
As Fisch, Chung, and Accordino (2016) indicate, storing medical information in a centralized server will promote easy sharing and accessibility from any location through blogs, virtual reality, and other media-sharing sites. Some of the social media sites used are Linked-In, Facebook, Google Plus, and YouTube. However, there are also some private health care professional media sites that can be used, including sermo, doximity, and QuantiaMD. The wealth of data created over time will be used to identify various diseases by conducting analytical operations. Nevertheless, the sharing of medical data is much easier and cheaper through the use of EHRs. The ease of use is enhanced by the use of a centralized server (Fisch, Chung, and Accordino, 2016). Therefore, the information does not require any back-up or upgrade compared to the use of paper-based medical records or individual servers.
Safeguards for EHR and other Health IT in Florida MIS Radiology
(As Martin (2017) suggests, a plan for security practices is vital before addressing the security of information systems. The methods used include email configuration, phishing simulation, education to workers, essential end-point protection, and critical access management, management of vulnerabilities, medical devices security, and incident response as well as intrusion prevention. These practices are used by small organizations as Florida MIS to address security issues related to the organization’s information technology.
Safeguards are used applied to implement security policies that would address security risks in the organization. Safeguards are categorized into administrative, physical, or technical safeguards (Wager, Lee, and Glaser, 2017). Guarantees are part of the security practices used in implementing security policies and regulations. According to Martin (2017), the application of safeguards is based on the risks identified when accessing the organization’s information technology.
It is essential to consider the application of various safeguards in an organization according to the needs or requirements of the health facility. For instance, the type of risk identified or mitigated against, for example, consideration of impacts of medical information disclosure or unauthorized access (Wager, Lee, and Glaser, 2017). In this scenario, Florida MIS Radiology is a small-health facility that does not require the implementation of EHRs. Based on the state of the health facility, administrative and physical safeguards are suitable before the implementation of the EHR.
The administrative safeguards will include training employees about protecting medical information from the breach, email configuration, IT devices security, and management of vulnerabilities as well as incident response. The physical safeguards will include the installation of a web application and facility controls. Lastly, the organization can decide on the strategy for the implementation of EHR governed by the health information organization via the NAHIT standards and regulations.

References
Cathy Menkiena, M. B. A., Karen Knecht, B. S. N., Randy Thomas, F. H. I. M. S. S., Burbine, T., & Rivers, S. (2018). EHRs: What’s Next?.
Fisch, M. J., Chung, A. E., & Accordino, M. K. (2016). Using technology to improve cancer care: social media, wearables, and electronic health records. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book, 36, 200-208.
Martin, S. M. (2017). Security and Privacy. In The Project Manager’s Guide to Health Information Technology Implementation (pp. 69-76). Productivity Press.
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: a practical approach for health care management. John Wiley & Sons.

Order | Check Discount

Tags: Safeguards Protect Against Security Threats