Every patient should have the right to feel as safe and as comfortable as possible. In order for this to happen, a great deal of trust must be placed in the hands of healthcare professionals, a unique trust that needs to be respected and nurtured.
When seeking treatment or picking up a prescription, perhaps one of the very last worries on a patient’s mind is the risk of fraud or having their valuable information stolen by nefarious cybercriminals.
This does not mean the threat is any less real, nor should the subject be glossed over or approached half-heartedly.
Here are some tips to help you ensure that the records of your patients stay safe and secure in a potentially treacherous digital landscape.
Preventative Software
In today’s climate, introducing preemptive cyber security measures is a must, regardless of whether it happens to be in retail, travel, or practically any other industry – making use of some great fraud management software can help secure your operation and protect your clients.
Failing to utilize dedicated, custom-built solutions might leave you at a disadvantage when it comes to navigating the pitfalls of the digital world, thus dulling your competitive edge and putting your patients’ details in jeopardy.
Staff Training
Unfortunately, many successful cyber breaches are a result of human error. Making sure that every employee that has access to your healthcare network is digitally competent can allow you to reduce the chances of fraud and data loss.
Sometimes, this is as easy as taking part in a basic cyber-hygiene course. Everyone needs a refresher from time to time, and since the world of tech moves so quickly, regular training should be on the cards.
Continuous training is extremely important in the healthcare industry, so you might find that staff are more than willing to learn new digital skills.
Strong Passwords
It is worth remembering that medical files are somewhat of a prime target to a hacker, as they tend to carry a wealth of highly sensitive and valuable information on them, such as bank details and social security numbers.
Protecting them with a weak password or two seems futile in this regard. Strong passwords combined with additional verification methods, such as SMS notifications, can provide a few extra layers of defense, making all the difference when it comes to looking after your patients.
If you discover that your personal password has a place in the hall of shame, it is certainly time to think about making a new one or perhaps even generating one randomly and writing it in your notes on your phone.
Use Secured Devices
Unsecured personal devices can be a huge threat to your healthcare network, especially if your employees are using their unencrypted tech to access patient records remotely.
This could have the potential to open up vulnerabilities within the network, allowing for a hacker to make their way into your system.
There are ways around this if you need to have remote access, however, such as supplying your employees with encrypted hardware and implanting a multi-factor access system on your network.
Locking down your cybersecurity infrastructure is yet another step towards strengthening that special bond of trust between you and your patients.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
