Subpar Data Security Continues in Healthcare Industry
2015
has a notorious characterization as a terrible year for data breaches in the
healthcare industry. Unfortunately, even though 2016 is well underway, companies
haven't made the substantial preventative measures needed to prevent the same
thing from happening again. That's the conclusion reached by the Ponemon
Institute after compiling data from its sixth annual survey.
Let's
take a look at some of the glaring problems related to data security in
healthcare, and explore why they're still so prevalent.
Half of Data
Breaches Are Caused by Mistakes
The above mentioned survey revealed mistakes are to blame in half of all
healthcare data breaches. Specifically, breaches were related to blunders made
by third-party companies, unintentional errors made by hospital employees and
failures to keep computers properly secured against theft. Analysts suggest
user mistakes could be reduced if data security were prioritized across entire
organizations, though not just by enforcing rigid rules.
For
example, Dow Chemical conducts targeted training for employees to explain data
security measures that are in place at the company, and to explain why it's so
important to comply with them. Because the organization goes deep by discussing
the reasoning for such measures, and even allows employees to give input while
policies are being created, the company outlines desired behaviors that
employees want to follow. Many employees assume preventing security breaches is
the responsibility of the IT department, but employees play important roles in
protecting data too.
Healthcare Workers
Are Swamped With Paperwork
Many
healthcare professionals grumble they have to fill out so much paperwork, they
can't spend enough time on patient care. In the mental health industry in
particular, the time spent on
paperwork is rising.
In addition to frustrating healthcare workers, excessive paperwork requirements
may make patients less likely to return regularly for treatments.
However,
data analytics in healthcare sectors could ease the burden. For example,
clinical and behavioral health software allows healthcare workers to enter assessment
data, manage treatment plans and examine statistics over time to
determine whether or not progress is being made.
When
healthcare workers have these kinds of tools to make it easier for them to
complete paperwork, they should have more time in their schedule to devote to
patient care. Furthermore, the more streamlined the paperwork process is, the
less likely physicians are to make errors due to hurriedness or fatigue. In
turn, if patients benefit by not having to fill out so many forms, they may be
more likely to return for regular visits.
Mobile Device Usage
Is On the Rise During Patient Care
The
Mobile Threat Intelligence Report released by Skycure, a threat defense
specialist, mentioned that 80 percent of
doctors
use mobile devices during daily practice, and 28 percent store patient data on
them. Because mobile devices are being used more frequently, they're becoming
hot items for thieves and hackers. Data released by Skycure also revealed the
devices doctors use often don't have password protection, and sometimes they
run outdated operating systems. Both of those problems put patient data at
risk.
Because
mobile devices arguably make patient care easier, the solution to cutting down
on data breaches on handheld tech isn't to eliminate them altogether. However,
healthcare facilities could enforce responsible usage by requiring physicians
to only use devices that are provided by their workplace, or have been set up
by a medical facility's IT team.
Medical Data Appeals
to Hackers
The
Ponemon survey also found almost 90 percent
of healthcare organizations suffered data breaches. Medical records were most
commonly compromised, but payment details were also at risk. That's probably
because healthcare information is rich with data hackers could use to create
big problems for the specific individuals who've had their details snatched,
not to mention the organization that provided treatment.
Some experts warn tapping into
medical data is even more valuable to hackers than credit card information.
While affected people can usually stop hackers by cancelling their credit cards,
halting medical records tampering is not so straightforward.
Hopefully
this information sheds some light on why plenty of progress has still to be
made in preventing healthcare data breaches. Achieving
worthwhile gains is not impossible, but doing so requires cooperation and
understanding between multiple parties.
##
About the Author
Kayla Matthews is a tech-loving blogger who writes and edits ProductivityBytes.com.
Follow her on Twitter
to read all of her latest posts!
Image
by Negative Space