HIPAA Compliance Explained: Everything You Need to Know

When running a business, it is absolutely essential to stay on top of the HIPAA regulations to ensure that all of your patient’s information is secure and handled with sensitivity. HIPAA compliance is a requirement for any business that deals with personal health information (PHI), and IT Services in Jacksonville can help your company implement these regulations.

To begin, HIPAA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of individuals’ health information. It requires businesses that handle PHI to put certain policies and procedures in place to ensure the security and confidentiality of their patients’ data. Under HIPAA, businesses must make sure they have adequate physical, technical, and administrative safeguards in place.

HIPAA compliance also requires that businesses keep all records up-to-date and accurate, and that they follow the right procedures for disposing of any PHI when it is no longer needed. Records must be kept securely—either electronically or on paper—in a manner that makes them difficult to access by unauthorized individuals. Businesses must also have policies in place regarding who is and isn’t allowed to access PHI, including appropriate authentication and authorization procedures.

Finally, businesses must also maintain an accurate accounting of all PHI disclosures and transfers. This means that if any individual or organization requests access to a patient’s health information, the business must be able to provide a detailed history of when the data was accessed, by whom, and for what purpose.

HIPAA compliance is a complex task, but understanding and following the regulations are essential for any business that deals with PHI. If you need help ensuring your business is compliant with HIPAA standards, seek out an experienced consultant from IT Services in Jacksonville who can help get your policies and procedures in order.