STOLEN MOBILE DEVICES

Theft of mobile devices continues to increase, and a number of health care facilities have had or will have to pay significant fines to the federal government for violation of HIPAA’s Security Rule.  Encryption of all computers and mobile devices is imperative to avoid risks to the security of patients’ stored health and payment information.

HIPAA Privacy and Security rules include multiple requirements to meet standards of security meant to reduce risk and vulnerability of protected health information.  You and your staff must be knowledgeable about these requirements and the ways to meet compliance.  The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has six educational programs on HIPAA compliance, one of which focuses on mobile device security.  Available to health care professionals, the programs include free CE credits.  For additional information about the programs and ordering specifics, visit: Helping Entities Implement Privacy and Security Protections - Medscape Programs.