EHR Development: Security & Compliance Guide
What do you think EHR or EMR software systems are majorly used for?
The sole purpose is to help healthcare providers enhance their care delivery and automate some administrative tasks. To some extent, compliance in EHR/EMR development has helped healthcare providers focus on patient care, but most of these software systems are used to enhance administrative tasks.
Even a report by Deloitte states that automation with EHR/EMR software in healthcare has increased than direct patient care activities.
All these administrative tasks accumulate to drive crucial insightful data into the practice. Using this, you can literally change the face of your practice and improve the overall accuracy and efficiency of your care delivery.
Since the data the software deals with is sensitive in nature, making sure that the data is secured and managed in a secure environment becomes extremely necessary. That is the reason many healthcare providers like yourself check for HIPAA Compliance for EHR developers.
Why is this necessary?
Obviously, data security is important in healthcare. On that note, let this blog be your guide to secure the EHR/EMR development process.
Understanding Security Threats in EHR Systems
The healthcare industry is one of the most lucrative industries in the world. It not only attracts individuals with career aspirations and also high investments unlike any other industry. Being one of the most crucial industries for sustainability of the human race, it also attracts the threats that can cost a fortune to the entire world.
Being prone to several healthcare threats like data breaches, unauthorized access, malware and ransomware attacks, it cements the need for data encryption for EHR/EMR and secure coding practices with compliance in EHR/EMR development.
A report by the HIPAA Journal states that around 133 million health records were exposed or stolen in 2023, which is one of the highest in recent years. Apart from the usual security threats like breaches and attacks, one of the most significant factors in compromising security has been insider threats and human error.
To avoid such threats, secure EHR/EMR development practices need to be followed from the very start as a part of risk management in EHR/EMR development.
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Download nowImplementing Robust Security Measures
As we all know, data has become the new-age currency of this digital world, and safeguarding and maintaining its privacy becomes extremely necessary here. Given the nature of data, the software deals with the reason that implementing robust security measures has become necessary for custom EHR development.
Below are some of the top secure coding practices that you should adhere to for secure EHR/EMR development:
1. Data Encryption: The system needs to correctly encrypt the data for the providers to make use of it, especially in EHR software. That is why a significant emphasis is given to data encryption for EHR/EMR systems. Follow secure coding practices along with necessary EHR/EMR regulations for development so that the software encrypts the data at rest and in transit to ensure confidentiality for the data with enhanced security.
2. Access Controls: The human error we talked about earlier often refers to unauthorized access and other activities related to access control. That is why implementing strong authentication protocols and role-based access control in EHR/EMR systems is crucial to safeguard patient information and reduce the chances of human error.
3. Audit Logs: Another best practice for data security in healthcare is maintaining detailed logs on system activities for monitoring and forensic analysis. This will help you understand the potential backlogs in your security measures and take effective measures to strengthen your software system’s security.
Free eBook – Best Practices to Implement Robust Security Measures in EHR System
Download nowEnsuring Compliance with Regulations
Ever since electronic health record systems were recognized by the federal government of the United States of America, there has been a significant shift in healthcare practices, and the emphasis on compliance in EHR/EMR development has become a necessary practice.
With regards to that, here are some of the necessary compliance in EHR/EMR development that you must follow and adhere to:
1. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): The first and foremost compliance you must adhere to is HIPAA. Being one of the EHR/EMR regulations requirements, it helps your system to protect patient privacy and ensure that sufficient security measures are taken for patient data safety. Being one of the first checkpoints in your customer’s software checklist, adhering to HIPAA is necessary not only for safeguarding information but also to smoothly navigate through the regulatory landscape.
2. HITECH ACT (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act): After recognizing the threats to data in the healthcare industry, the HITECH Act was passed, which made it necessary for practices using EHR software systems to adhere to HITECH Compliance. Under this act, specific guides for data break notifications and auditing are given, which you must adhere to to ensure best practices are being followed and risk management in EHR/EMR development is taken to safeguard information.
3. Other Relevant Compliances: The compliance requirements might change depending on the region you are practicing. Some other compliances you must follow are GDPR, FDA approval for devices, and interoperability standards like HL7 & FHIR and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) for payments.
Continuous Monitoring & Improvement
Following EHR/EMR regulations in the development phase is not enough to ensure data security in healthcare. It is a continuous process of monitoring the activities of the system and making necessary changes to enhance the security measures. One of the industry’s best practices in this regard is to regularly conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify any vulnerabilities in the system’s security.
After that, you can update the security of the software and enhance the safety of your EMR software system from emerging threats. However, one of the essential aspects of this is to train your staff on cybersecurity and data security protocols so that they don’t fall short and the area of human error is also avoided.
Conclusion
The first and foremost aspect of improving the security of your EHR/EMR software is to prioritize and adhere to the necessary compliances for the software’s development. Ensure that you follow HIPAA, HITECH Compliance, and other necessary compliances to navigate effectively through the legal landscape. Additionally, implement robust security measures and follow secure coding practices to enhance data security in healthcare.
Furthermore, if you’re looking for an EHR/EMR software vendor to build a secure and compliant EHR system to safeguard patient data, click here to book a consultant call with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many potential consequences of non-compliance with healthcare data security regulations such as :-
- Legal penalties: Fines and sanctions imposed by regulatory bodies.
- Reputation damage: Loss of trust from patients and stakeholders.
- Data breaches: Compromised patient information leading to financial and personal harm.
- Loss of business: Patients may seek care elsewhere due to concerns over privacy and security.
To ensure your custom EHR/EMR solution meets the latest security standards, implement robust encryption methods, adhere to HIPAA regulations, regularly update software patches, conduct thorough security audits, and employ multi-factor authentication for access control.
To stay updated on evolving regulations and best practices in secure EHR/EMR development, utilize resources like HealthIT.gov, HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), AHA (American Hospital Association), and journals like the Journal of AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).
EHR/EMR development faces risks like weak security protocols, insider threats, and phishing attacks. These can expose sensitive patient data, leading to breaches and identity theft.
Healthcare organizations safeguard electronic records by following HIPAA rules: access controls, data encryption, staff training, and monitoring for security breaches.
HIPAA enforces safeguards like access limits, encryption, staff training, and breach monitoring to keep electronic health records secure.
EHR/EMR systems can ensure HIPAA compliance by using access controls, data encryption, and audit logs. They should also follow industry standards for secure data exchange and patient privacy.
Prioritize encryption for data storage and transfer. Enforce strict access controls with role-based permissions. Log all user activity for auditing. Regularly update software and maintain HIPAA compliance.
GDPR strengthens healthcare data privacy. Patients must consent to data processing, and have rights to access and correct their information. Healthcare providers need clear policies and strong security to comply.
Staff trained in cybersecurity threats and HIPAA regulations become a human firewall, spotting phishing attempts and protecting sensitive patient data, ensuring healthcare IT systems stay secure and compliant.
