Complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is not something most healthcare providers find to be a simple task. However, violating HIPAA regulations means fines, something most smaller providers can’t afford to risk. There are rules regarding hospital data loss and making sure data is backed up in a secure fashion.
To be HIPAA compliant, you need a backup solution that follows a standard backup policy that you and your team will need to devise. You’ll have to work that policy into a list of procedures and implement them into your backup plan. To properly implement the policies, you’ll need hardware and software that can help you follow through on implementation. You’ll also need to consider storing your information at an offsite location.
The reason you should consider an offsite method or archiving is because to be HIPAA compliant regarding hospital data loss, you’ll need to have constant, unfettered access to your archives. Off site vendors can copy your data to removable media, which can be stored and accessed in the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise.
When you look at HIPAA technical standards, you’ll see that you’ll need to be current on the specs surrounding the ANSI ASC X12N format. You do have the option to back up your data on-site, but you’ll have more stable storage offsite. You’ll also need to be sure to have adequate audit trails and reporting procedures in place. Finally, you’ll need to be familiar with the appropriate encryption and ANSI standard.
When you shop around for an offsite vendor to keep your data secure for you, pick only those that can assure you that your data and archive drives are whole and not duplicated, that they are encrypted and restorable at a granular level.
The best datacenters are classified as Level IV. They include many backup procedures and security measures that go above and beyond what standard datacenters can offer. For instance, not only are the servers protected by top-notch software that alerts the appropriate personnel to any hardware issues affecting the servers, there are also guards on the premises to ensure nobody gains unauthorized access to the building.
When physicians can’t gain access to medical imaging, they are unable to get a full picture of what’s going on inside their patients. They should be able to expect the data to be in front of them within seconds of trying to pull it up. It’s about being able to offer 24/7 business continuity with a backup plan that is fully effective, in terms of cost and usability.
OffSite Image Management, Inc. specializes in hospital data loss, or rather, the processes that keep you from losing your data. We have developed solutions that keep healthcare providers compliant with HIPAA rules and regulations, but we also make sure our clients are always connected to their data, giving physicians the access they need to valuable data and ensure that they are always able to offer their patients the best possible care.