Organizations that are classified as covered entities will need to comply with the data backup regulations stipulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This will ensure that all medical records of patients are safe and there are additional backups created to help keep them safe even in an emergency.
As all the files are stored electronically, it is advisable that organizations create a backup for these files. Most covered entities used to have a manual backup plan that helped safeguard the protected information of patients. However this proved to be quite inadequate as the volume of medical records of patients increased over a period of time.
Organizations needed a larger backup plan due to the enormity of the files that needed to be stored and safeguarded. The manual backup plan was also vulnerable for damage and loss of files. Due to this automatic backup of files became the norm as they help in saving larger volume of data easily.
4 Important Aspects Of HIPAA Data Compliance
1. All data that is stored in these automatic backup systems are encrypted and this will ensure that they cannot be accessed by any unauthorized individual. If someone intentionally or unintentionally manages to gain access to them, it will not be possible to open them without completing the decryption process. This will ensure safety and security of the protected information of patients.
2. Most organizations that need to comply with the various provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act are also opting for a remote offsite data files storage facility. There is usually a 128 bit encryption before the files are transferred remotely for backup. These remote data centers will need to be HIPAA compliant.
3. The files in the remote backup facility are safeguarded using the latest in technology and this will help restrict any kind of unauthorized access. There is also a secure password and other biometric safeguards that help keep the files safe. They would also be able to store a huge volume of patient data. Organizations that have utilized all the space that is available to store the files can ask for an upgrade. This will ensure that more files are stored in this system.
4. Authorized individuals will be able to access the files that are stored remotely by following the necessary safety procedures. The remote backup plan helps keep the files safe even during natural calamities like floods.
All these measures will help ensure that even if all the electronic data in hospitals or clinics or health insurance agencies is destroyed there is still an option available for organizations to get back the data through remote backup facilities. This ensures that the data is safe at all times.
There is also a twenty four hour backup facility available at these remote backup sites and this ensures that the data is continuously captured and there will be no loss of valuable data. When organizations opt for such facilities, it will enable them to be HIPAA complaint and help avoid any penalties.
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