What Does HIPAA Protect?
Did you enter the medical field with the intention of assisting people in achieving health? That’s a compelling argument, but you must also comprehend and abide by HIPAA.
What is protected by HIPAA? It covers a wide range of healthcare-related topics. To understand more about HIPAA protection, continue reading.
What HIPAA Covers?
You should keep in mind that HIPAA protects a variety of things while asking “what does HIPAA protect?” Protected health information is the broadest category it includes.
Multiple pieces of information are classified as PHI under HIPAA. Names, medical dates, phone numbers, and email addresses are a few examples of typical ones. PHI also includes biometric identifiers like fingerprints and full-face photographs.
PHI also includes account numbers, health insurance beneficiary numbers, and account numbers. No matter the format, HIPAA protection guarantees the security of this data. When HIPAA protection is relevant, have a look at a few forms.
Paper Records
The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to any print copies of your patients’ records. Access must only be granted to those who require it to perform their duties.
Some suppliers still utilize paper, despite the fact that many now use electronic systems. It would be a paper record if you needed to make a copy of a patient’s identification or insurance card.
Without the proper filing system, paper records might be difficult to secure. You must, however, maintain the privacy of patient records. You can make sure you keep these documents secure by taking a HIPAA refresher course.
Electronic Records
For providers, viewing, editing, and tracking patient care are made simpler by electronic health records (EHR). When speaking to or about a patient, you do not need to have access to that patient’s individual file.
HIPAA does, however, protect electronic documents. HIPAA uses electronic files to protect what? It functions similarly to how paper files are protected.
The main distinction is the requirement for technological measures to safeguard the data. Users can be given access to patient files by setting up usernames and passwords.
Electronic documents are easier than paper records to secure in various respects. However, you must still adhere to HIPAA while safeguarding electronic files.
