HIPAA Security Policy - Essay Example

HIPAA Security Policy Introduction Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ensures that sensitive information regarding a patient is well protected using the set standard. Any firm that deals with Protected Health Information must ensure that it observes all the requirements of the Act. The practice of the physician opening in springs 2015 must therefore comply with these requirements (Online Tech, 2015).What I would doIn the first place, I would ensure that I understand every detail concerning the effectiveness of HIPAA.

I would then ensure that the physician protects all the health information that concerns its patients. I would also ensure that the physician is aware of all the measures of ensuring security and that these measures are well observed. The security measures will need to be observed by all the covered entities and these will include those providing treatment, payments, and other healthcare operations. I will also ensure that the business associates as well get to understand these measures and these will include individuals such as those having access to the information of patients and those who offer support during treatment and in other operations and will also include the subcontractors.

I would then follow the relevant steps in implementing an efficient privacy rule (Online Tech, 2015).Security practices and policies associated with HIPAAThe security policies associated with HIPAA include technical policies and these include the integrity measures and controls that ensure that the electronic protected health information is in good working condition and is not altered nor destroyed. There are offsite backups and disaster recovery of IT that ensure that any failures or errors concerning electronic media are rectified to ensure that information concerning the health of patients is recovered while still intact.

There is also the technical safeguard that ensures that the access to the electronic protected health data is controlled and only the authorized users have access. Record of activities on the hardware or the software is made possible by tracking logs or audit reports. Transmission or network is another safeguard practice that ensures that ensures there is protection against unauthorized access to electronic patient health information. There are also physical safeguards that ensure that limits the access to security, and to ensure that all the entities that are covered have policies and use regarding electronic media and workstations (Hasib, 2013).

Important HIPAA security policy requirementsOne of the most important security policy requirements of HIPAA is the privacy rule. This rule requires that all the covered entities should comply with the requirements of HIPAA. It requires all the entities to be aware and write down all the required policies with regard to this rule and to be able to show compliance in this respect. Its scope is narrow since it deals with the electronic patient health information. The security rule is as well important since it supports the privacy rule and this is determined in its role of establishing a baseline through which electronic health information is secured.

The technical policies are also importance since they ensure that the electronic patient health information is in good working condition (Herold & Beaver, 2014).ConclusionIn conclusion, the physician will require learning about the compliance with HIPAA before opening the practice in spring 2015. This will ensure that they are aware of the requirements of the Act and will also be able to determine the parties that require being involved. The guidelines given therefore will be important in guiding the physician.

References:Online Tech. (2015). What is HIPAA compliance?.Retrieved from: http://www.onlinetech.com/resources/references/what-is-hipaa-complianceHerold, R. & Beaver, K. (2014). The Practical Guide to HIPAA Privacy and Security Compliance. London: CRC Press.Hasib, M. (2013). Impact of security culture on security compliance in healthcare in the United States of America: A strategic assurance approach.