What Are the Keys to HIPAA Compliance?

TeachPrivacy

HIPAA training and compliance - employer violationWhat Are the Keys to HIPAA Compliance?

HIPAA compliance is complicated and requires a thorough understanding of the HIPAA Rules. The best place to start is with some key practices that are at the core of HIPAA compliance:

  • Implement clear privacy policies: Develop and enforce policies and procedures for complying with HIPAA.
  • Limit access to protected health information (PHI): Restrict access to PHI to only those who need it for their job.
  • Securely store PHI: Implement proper safeguards to protect electronic and physical health information from unauthorized access, theft, or loss.
  • Use secure communication methods: When transmitting PHI, use HIPAA-compliant email or other secure communication channels.
  • Train employees: Provide regular training on HIPAA compliance and proper handling of PHI to all staff who may come into contact with such data.
  • Conduct regular compliance assessments: Perform periodic assessments of your organization’s HIPAA compliance and address any identified issues as soon as possible.
  • Use Business Associate Agreements: Ensure that any third parties handling PHI on your behalf have signed Business Associate Agreements and are HIPAA compliant.
  • Establish breach reporting procedures: Develop clear protocols for employees to report potential security breaches or unauthorized disclosures of PHI.

HIPAA can seem impenetrable and overly complicated, but once you understand how it works, HIPAA is quite understandable and practical. If you’re relatively new to HIPAA, we have a 3-course series that provides an overview of HIPAA. You’ll gain an introductory understanding of how the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules work, and you’ll receive a HIPAA certificate if you complete the courses. This will provide a strong foundation for you as you start working with HIPAA.

Prof. Daniel SoloveSince its founding by Professor Daniel J. Solove in 2010, TeachPrivacy has provided training for hundreds of organizations, boutique to Fortune 500, both nationwide and globally. A leading international expert in privacy law, Solove is a law professor at George Washington University Law School, has authored more than 10 books and more than 50 articles, as well as given lectures around the world. His LinkedIn blog has more than 1 million followers. Click here for more information about Professor Solove.