11
Volume3 Issue2
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CDA
at
W
ork
Why shoulddentistsbeworried
aboutprotectingtheconfidentiality
of theirpatientdata?
Health care relies heavily on electronic
communications now, and inNorth
America close to 50% of data breaches
are health care-related. Patient data is
our business data—we need this data
to operate, andwe need to have our
patients' confidence that we’re taking
good care of their information asmuch as
their health.
Whatcandentistsdotoensure
thatpatienthealth information
remainsconfidential?
Establishgoodpoliciesandprocedures.
Don’t relyonhumanbehaviour and
understanding to keep your practice
secure. Take the time to look at thehealth
careprivacy laws that apply in your
province anduse that as a template for
creatingpolicy and trainingwithin your
practice. Create your own rulebook for
everyonewith access topatient information
in your office, includinghygienists, office
staff, ITpeople and accountants.
Secure your systems.
Get a professional
IT assessment and subscribe to a software
service thatmonitors andmaintains
system securitywith technical safeguards.
For example, there shouldbe passwords
and controls for accessingpersonal health
information, and encryption of electronic
personal health information. For anti-virus
software, look for one that has endpoint
protection—it providesmore protection
than just an anti-virus and hasmany layers
of security built into it.
Are You Protecting Your
PATIENTDATA?
We spokewithAnneGenge,
CEOofHealthcareCompliance
Network Inc., about the security
of patientdata indental
practices.Her teamworkswith
health careprofessionals to
provide IT solutions that
maintain computer systems
andprotect patientdata.
AnneGenge
