Keep Your Patients Safe and Secure with Meaningful Use Risk Analysis

by Jack H. Writer

Security risk analysis is extremely necessary in terms of public relations, gaining patient’s confidence, prevention of revenue loss and protection of patient’s safety. But many organizations are delaying the need to perform a security risk assessment. Under the HITECH, it has become essential for both eligible hospitals and professionals to review or conduct a security risk analysis and as required, implement security updates. They should also correct identified security deficiencies during the EHR reporting period in order to meet this measure.

For protection against anticipated threats to the security or integrity of e-PHI, implementation of reasonable and appropriate security measures is necessary. It should be conducted under the guidance of IT leadership, internal auditors and IT subject matter experts. In order to receive the desired outcome, many organizations look towards well trained and experienced consultants. Understand the basic technology components in your infrastructure like applications, operating systems, hardware, mobile devices and laptop so that you can fully review your technology risk. There are various types of threat identification such as human threats, environmental threats and natural threats. Your system can be vulnerable to a range of threats such as poor software construction, information security or poor training.

If there is any historical data missing, then the meaningful use risk assessment team should use best judgment to analyze that impact. Result documentation is a must and therefore considered the capstone of your work. As the pace of information technology changes at a great speed and requirements are rapid, so an annual assessment is extremely necessary for most institutions. On the basis of security risk analysis and assessment report, the institution will have a good understanding of the risks to e-PHI and will be provided with specific steps and actions so as to lower the risk.

It provides greater access and sharing of patient’s health information among payers, patients and employees. In every health organization’s future, IT security will become a critical success. With its implementation, everyone stands to gain. The health care industry meets federal requirements and gains confidence in protecting personal health information. Thus it can most effectively and efficiently achieve its goal. Mere conducting a security meaningful use risk analysis is not enough. But it is extremely necessary for all the institutions to address any security gaps so as to ensure that their EHR are fully protected. Now, with everything in place, health organizations can focus on treating their patients with care!