Securing PHI
Xenon Health is committed to embracing and contributing to the ongoing changes in healthcare. The digitization of not just medical records but the entire care continuum is no doubt driving efficiency and improving patient outcomes. However, it has also introduced significant challenges. One of these is combating the global threat of electronic protected health information (ePHI) theft. Cybercriminals target patient information because of its ubiquity, detailed content, and value on the black market. Reportedly, 80 percent of healthcare institutions have experienced at least one cyber breach at some level. Consulting firm Accenture has projected that information theft associated with such breaches could cost the healthcare industry more than $300 billion in revenue within five years. The reality is that many healthcare companies are not adequately prepared to combat cyber infiltration and data theft.
Some of the most common problems identified in healthcare organizations regarding data theft protection include:
- Out-of-date software
- Insecure protocols
- Misconfiguration
- Weak passwords
- Patching flaws
- Understaffed and underfunded cybersecurity departments
- Human error within the organization
- Access to computers in unrestricted areas
- Lack of security standards for mobile devices
- Vulnerability to phishing and other social engineering attacks
At Xenon Health, every job, to some degree, is a cybersecurity job. Employees are trained from day one to be cognizant of patient privacy and vulnerabilities in their digital environment. We have mandatory HIPAA compliance training with recertification required every two years for all employees.
In addition to these measures, Xenon Health employs state-of-the-art health IT protocols and systems to safeguard ePHI. These include:
- Encrypted PCs and hardware
- Secure networks with AES encrypted routers
- Encrypted and HIPAA-compliant digital communication platforms
- Routine monitoring of all electronic communication logs
- Frequent breach audits
- Data storage in HIPAA-compliant and encrypted cloud storage with secure backups
- Data encryption at rest and in transit
- Digital security cameras with continuous storage
- Dedicated security compliance officers in each administrative location
- Frequent software updates and password changes
- Multifactor authentication
- Frequent review of access credentials
- Strict adherence to the HIPAA Security Rule with implementation of the HIPAA Security Rule Crosswalk to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Advanced threat detection systems using AI and machine learning
- Implementation of zero-trust security models
- Continuous employee education and simulation-based phishing attack training
We are also leveraging blockchain technology to ensure the integrity and immutability of health records. Blockchain provides a tamper-proof ledger of all transactions, enhancing the security of patient information.
Just as we continue to refine our management protocols through an empirical and iterative approach, we continuously learn and enhance our defenses against ePHI theft. Our commitment to staying at the forefront of health IT innovation ensures that we provide the highest level of security for our patients and healthcare partners.
