Every patient has the right to data privacy and confidentiality. Whether the patient is suffering from acute or chronic disease or an infectious or a terminal illness, healthcare workers and agencies must safeguard patient health information (PHI).  

This article explains the different tools healthcare professionals, facilities, and organizations use to protect patient health information.  

1. Cybersecurity Tools 

Cybersecurity tools and procedures, such as pen testing from CP Cyber and other similar providers, are also helpful in protecting patient health information.  

Penetration testing refers to utilizing various methods hackers use to determine a risk level. For instance, a hacker may use a special software program to remotely steal a patient’s electronic health records (EHR). 

Cybersecurity solutions include web and mobile application penetration testing and cloud service penetration testing. Penetration testing tools are also suitable for detecting vulnerabilities in servers, physical access, and Wi-Fi networks. 

Check out the following technical capabilities and tools that can accurately detect cyber security issues to help protect patient health information:  

• DNS Poisoning: It involves using altered Domain Name (DN) records to redirect web traffic to a fake web server or fraudulent site. Cyber security providers use similar tools for DNS poisoning to determine the vulnerability of a healthcare system and protect PHI. 
• MitM Network Sniffing: The man-in-the-middle attack or MitM network sniffing involves an attacker who installs a packet sniffer for network traffic analysis. This cyber security capability analyzes how an attacker can intercept information and send malicious links to legitimate parties undetected. 
• Others: Address Resolution Protocol (AP Poisoning), virtual local area network hopping (VLAN) Hopping, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) modification are network security tools and capabilities that can also help protect PHI. 

2. Automation Tools 

Automation of healthcare tasks can help safeguard patient health information.  

Because most healthcare tasks are repetitive, automating low-value tasks is possible. Moreover, automating high-value tasks, such as searching for patient information and predicting clinical outcomes, is also recommended using automation tools.  

Here are some examples of automation tools that healthcare professionals and organizations can use to protect PHI: 

• Clinical Trial Automation Software 

Automating case report forms (CRFs) with the help of clinical trial automation software enables obtaining accurate patient responses in clinical trials. Contract research organizations (CROs) can use automation to reduce manual processes and edit and update forms and annotations quickly and securely. In addition, researchers and clinical investigators can focus more on patients and build more clinical studies. 

• EMR Platforms 

Physicians use integrated electronic medical records (EMR) to benchmark their practice while safeguarding PHI. The EMR platforms serve as digital assistants for doctors, allowing them to create medical notes anywhere and anytime. One remarkable feature of EMR tools is speech-to-text which transcribes spoken notes to save time from typing. 

The EMR care teams can share notes to make better decisions. Collaboration is easier with colleagues able to share patient data without friction. Moreover, EMR tools improve doctors’ practice and publish research on findings to support peers. This tool can help store PHI and generate data insights securely for case analysis to improve quality patient care delivery. 

3. HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Computing  

Cloud computing allows easy access to patient history, diagnostic results, and other data. Embracing cloud computing technology can improve patient care and reduce medical diagnostic errors. Furthermore, cloud computing helps protect PHI by only allowing authorized users to see, change, and add details on a clinical record.  

However, it’s crucial to ensure utmost security and compliance before healthcare organizations can use cloud computing services for storing and processing PHI. The same is true when collecting, storing, maintaining, and transmitting PHI in mobile- and web-based applications. 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) is a federal statute that publicizes standards for security, privacy, and electronic health information exchange. A cloud computing platform provider must have HIPAA certification. Otherwise, no healthcare organization will trust the company’s services. HIPAA-compliant cloud computing services provide healthcare professionals and patients peace of mind that their medical information is in good hands.  

Conclusion 

Many tools, such as cloud computing and penetration testing, are available to protect patient health information. When choosing a provider, it’s crucial to consider your organization’s tasks, niche, and target audience. As much as possible, embrace advanced technology to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies regarding proper storage and processing of PHI.