Healthcare data breaches are a serious threat to both your business and your patients. Information stolen can lead to identity theft, fraud, and financial losses. Despite the many security protocols and updated technological security systems available, data leaks and breaches are still a possible occurrence. Find out what to do after a patient data leak and maximize your healthcare business’ security.
Contain the Breach
After identifying a leak, no matter the cause, the most critical action is securing and containing the breach. Like in any other emergency, you want to minimize additional damage. Depending on the type of leak, you can isolate and control the issue in many ways. Common containment solutions include:
• Updating passwords• Disabling remote access
• Disconnecting from the internet
• Changing access control credentials
• Using an antivirus scanner to isolate malware
Take back control of the breach and contain the leak.
Investigate and Document the Incident
Documentation builds your business an incident case to investigate and provide supportive evidence for any legal actions. Any notes, reports, and records you can gather, from screenshots to recounted time frames of incidents, give you plenty of information and data to use. Contacting a professional investigator to review your notes and records further allows you to better understand what happened and what measures to take next.
Notify the Secretary and Individuals
After the leak, it is your responsibility to report the incident. You must notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and affected individuals. The Department of Health and Human Services mandates that breach notifications get sent out through a written letter or email. If patients are hard to reach individually, you must make a statement on your website, in print, and in broadcasts. In an incident that involves over 500 people, your office needs to make an official public statement to the media.
Revise and Correct Security Measures
The last step to recovering from a data leak is implementing future preventive measures and corrective plans. What will you do to reduce the chances of a data breach from occurring again? Effective corrective measures include updated security measures, new malware protection programs, and enhanced employee training.
Gamma Compliance Solutions’ OSHA and HIPAA compliance training provide education on necessary legal requirements and information on keeping your healthcare business healthy and safe in many ways. Education and prevention guarantee better protection, keeping your business and patients safe from breaches and other harms.
Know what to do after a patient data leak to mitigate damage and keep everyone involved safe. No matter the safety protocols in place, breaches can still happen. Preparing for when the problem arises allows you to handle the situation smoothly and get back on the right track.