Given the need to abide by HIPAA compliance in healthcare entitiesand the sensitive matter of protecting patient records, cloud computing is agood resource in managing the job. These entities can sensitize their cloudcomputing associates and get their role documented in the process of HIPAAcompliance.
HIPAA Compliance: The objective behind
Sensitivity in maintainingindividual health record of every person is too significant and this is whatgets ensured under HIPAA security compliance, which aims at protecting anindividual’s information to be obtained, created, used and maintainedelectronically at a specific healthcare unit or hospital. As a result of thisrule, the healthcare unit is responsible for taking every measure to keep thisinformation confidential, secure, reliable and free from any electronicinterference. But healthcare units usually find it tough to meet theexpectations of this security rule & it requires a more technical approachin abiding by the directives of the security rule.
Healthcare unit’s responsibility in ensuring HIPAA securitycompliance
Under HIPAA security compliance,each of the three aspects, namely administrative, technical and physical, hasto be adhered to by implementation specifications. These specifications specifythe modus operandi for meeting the three aspects. A healthcare unit or hospitalhas to either implement a security measure to achieve this objective, executethe given implementation specifications or, may not put into practice eitherone of the two. But as part of HIPAA compliance, the body has to documentwhichever choice it wants to implement and this document should additionallycomprise of basis of the evaluation on which this decision has been arrived at.Outcome of all this can be visibly noticed in the form of a challenge for ITprofessionals working in health sector.
Shouldering HIPAA compliance responsibility with cloud computingvendor
No surprise, emergence of cloudcomputing looked like easing the scenario but with enough caution, given thatan outside agency in the form of cloud providing associate is involved besides thehealthcare unit. Because of this vendor-client partnering, the ultimateresponsibility to abide by HIPAAcompliance resting with the healthcare unit gets pooled with the vendor, since implementationgets carried out at the vendor end. Thus, there is much room for the sensitiveinformation getting trickled at the remote location where cloud model has beensetup. In this situation, the healthcare unit will have to adhere to all thesecurity aspects and implementation specifications as discussed above, so as tosatisfy the HIPAA security rule. In the process, the healthcare unit will haveto extend its interference and control at the cloud computing associate’slocation in terms of integrity, encryption, data transfer & management,etc., which this body earlier left up to business associate due to contractuallimitations or budget constraints.
Documentation of roles
Obviously, the healthcare unit hasan opportunity this way to allot even responsibility to its cloud computingbusiness associate and keep it under the scanner, as if HIPAA compliance is notjust the healthcare unit’s liability, but is as much an accountability of thatvendor. The documented modus operandi of this body can well include the extentto which it has involved vendor and along with, ask the vendor to document itsprocedures and practices in following the technical requirements and the HIPAAcompliance as a whole.
While cloud computing can be thetechnical answer for healthcare IT professionals to successfully satisfy HIPAAsecurity compliance, the organisations in healthcare can well ensure strictadherence of HIPAA rules by shouldering equal responsibility with their cloudcomputing business associates.
About emPower
emPower is a leading provider of comprehensive Healthcare ComplianceSolutions through Learning ManagementSystem (LMS). Its mission is to provide innovative security solutions toenable compliance with applicable laws and regulations and maximize businessperformance. empower provides range of courses to manage compliance required byregulatory bodies such as OSHA, HIPAA, Joint commission and Red Flag Rule etc.Apart from this emPower also offers custom demos and tutorials for yourwebsite, business process management and software implementation.
Its Learning Management system (LMS) allows students to retrieve all the courses24/7/365 by accessing the portal. emPower e-learning training program is aninteractive mode of learning that guides students to progress at their ownpace.
For additional information, please visit http://www.empowerbpo.com/HIPAA_Compliance_Training.html.
MediaContact (emPower)
Jason Gaya
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emPower
12806 Townepark Way
Louisville, KY 40243-2311
Ph: 502 -400-9374
http://www.empowerbpo.com
http://www.empowerlms.com
