HIPAA Security Risk Assessment Tool For Primary Care Providers
HIPAA stands for, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA laws are important for primary care providers to follow, but it can be difficult to know if your practice has the appropriate security measures in place.
Reduce the Risk of a Data Breach
This video will walk you through how to complete a HIPAA Security Risk Assessment with the SRA Tool. A risk assessment is necessary to identify any threats and hazards that may pose a risk to your electronic protected health information; more commonly referred to as ePHI.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services a risk assessment is the first step in enforcing the appropriate security measures that protect Individually Identifiable Health Information!
Do You Need to Complete a HIPAA Security Risk Assessment But Not Sure Where to Start?
Hi, I am "INSERT NAME". In this video, we're going to take a look at our Security Risk Assessment Tool for Primary Care Providers. We will cover how it is broken down into sections and what steps you should be taking in each section of the tool.
The SRA Tool is designed to empower primary care providers with less than 50 employees to identify their security risks and create a plan of action for protecting individually identifiable health information.
What is a Security Risk Assessment?
A Security risk assessment is a step by step process that helps to reveal areas where your organization's protected health information could be at risk.
Why is a Risk Analysis Important?
Primary care providers handle electronic protected health information that is critical to their business operations and vital to the care of patients.
Taking the steps to secure your patients' health information is:
- A good business practice and
- A part of each physician's Hippocratic Oath
A lost or stolen mobile device, identity theft, or a hacked computer are just a few of the potential risks providers are confronted with as they receive, store and transmit electronic health data.
Preparation and training can minimize risks and help workforce members to respond confidently in the midst of a crisis.
The Security Management Process and Risk Analysis
The strategy for handling risks is the "SECURITY MANAGEMENT PROCESS."
A comprehensive "Risk Analysis" is the first step to a thorough "SECURITY MANAGEMENT PROCESS."
The HIPAA Security Rule provides guidance that helps providers understand how to protect "ELECTRONIC PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION."
A Risk Analysis helps to identify potential risks to ePHI that may compromise the:
- Confidentiality by not allowing an unauthorized person to access it,
- Integrity by preventing someone from inappropriately altering it or
- Availability by not making it accessible when needed.
It is impossible to eliminate risks completely but the purpose of the Security Rule is to provide guidance that helps to protect against those risks that can be reasonably anticipated.
Key Elements of a Risk Analysis
There are many different methods for completing a Risk Analysis but the key elements remain the same.
The key elements of a Risk Analysis must include the potential risks and vulnerabilities to all the ePHI that your organization creates, receives, maintains or transmits.
Use our SRA Tool to complete your risk analysis in 4 steps:
- Identify Your Organization's Risks And Vulnerabilities
- Assess The Likelihood Of The Security Risks And Their Potential Impact,
- Develop And Implement A Plan Of Action For Mitigating Those Risks,
- Monitor And Update Your Risk Assessment As Needed.
Understanding Cybersecurity Risk, Threats, and Vulnerabilities
What is the definition of "Risk" in cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity risk is a "measurement" of the probability/likelihood of exposure of a critical asset, sensitive information loss, or reputational harm that stems from a cyberattack or from a breach within an organization's network.
Threats - are any circumstance or event with the potential to adversely impact your organization's mission, functions, image, or reputation.
Threats may originate from human intervention, natural disasters or environmental factors.
Examples of possible threats include:
- Hackers,
- Disgruntled employees,
- Natural disasters or
- Power outages.
Vulnerabilities - are weaknesses in your security controls which could potentially cause a security incident.
Examples of vulnerabilities include:
- Unencrypted laptops,
- Unauthorized access,
- Ineffective policies.
Conclusion and Next Steps
We hope this video has opened your eyes to the importance of protecting and securing your ePHI.
For more information please review our:
- Companion guide,
- Training modules and,
- Knowledge base.
Your organization can get started on their way to being compliant with HIPAA by completing a micro version of the security management process.
This free assessment delivers all the elements, which are detailed in full when completing the comprehensive risk management process including the analysis and reporting results.
The benefits for you as a healthcare provider include peace-of mind knowing that your company is protected under federal law - it's just one more reason why we're here at The SRA Tool.
Start a New Risk Assessment Now!