A HIPAA risk analysis is important for several reasons. First, your business should be aware of any security flaws that may permit an unauthorized disclosure of electronic patient health information. It is also vital to protect electronically stored patient information from threats in the environment and from natural causes. For example, a natural disaster that affects your computer networks may cause electronic patient health information to become lost if an alternative storage center is not being used. It is also required that all organizations and entities that create, transmit or store electronic patient health information perform a HIPAA risk analysis to ensure the security of their data. A basic HIPAA risk analysis also includes questions about administrative procedures and whether any technical or physical safeguards are being used to protect electronic patient information. Under the HIPAA Security Rule, organizations and entities with access to electronic patient information must follow HIPAA guidelines and implement new security measures as new regulations are released. Relying on a HIPAA compliance checklist will simplify the process of becoming HIPAA compliant. Today, companies can rely on HIPAA certified software providers to find and utilize a checklist that meets the current standards determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Relying on a HIPAA compliance checklist is the simplest way to focus on which HIPAA regulations need to be implemented in your organization. The results of your HIPAA risk analysis will provide you with the information that you need to prevent data loss and protect electronic patient information from unauthorized third-party access. You will also need to document that results of your risk assessment in order to prove that security measures are in place. Written documentation should be kept in the office along with other items from the HIPAA compliance checklist.
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