Get Live Chat Request a Callback Get live demo

← Back

How to play your way to cyber-safety

EMR/EHR

advancedmd-articles-how-to-play-your-way-to-cyber-safety

Last year, almost half of all major data breaches affected the healthcare industry.1 In fact, during the last five years, more than 120 million patients had their healthcare records compromised.2 With statistics like these, private practices are more focused than ever on protecting the security of their patients’ personal health information.

To help you find out if you and your staff are up-to-date on the latest security practices, HealthIT.gov has created a game called Cybersecure: Your Medical Practice. Private practice physicians and staff can play the online game by answering multiple-choice questions on common real-world scenarios that could lead to a security breach. Answer correctly and you’ll earn points to win “prizes” for a virtual medical office, like extra office space, more exam rooms, or a new TV for your office. It’s a fun way to learn best practices for keeping your devices and your patients’ health records secure.

Here are three ways to keep cyber-safe that we learned when playing (and winning!) the Cybersecure game:

Protect your passwords. Here’s an example of a question you may get during the Cybersecure game; can you answer it correctly?

How often should you change your EHR password (at minimum)?

  • Daily
  • Monthly
  • Quarterly
  • 2x/year
  • 1x/year

Answer? Quarterly. A secure portal that is login and password protected is key to keeping your EHR safe. Make sure that everyone on your staff understands the importance of protecting their passwords by updating them regularly. Remind them to never share passwords or keep them in plain view of patients or vendors (i.e. Post-it® note on the desk).

Protect your devices. Be sure your security measures include all devices, like laptops and iPads, that you use to access patient data. Below are a few tips to keep your devices secure.

  • Don’t use your devices to visit gaming or questionable sites that could expose your system to malware.
  • Don’t take devices out of the office unless patient information has been encrypted.
  • Keep track of all devices, never leaving them unattended in an exam room or any place where there could be unauthorized access.
  • Remove the hard drive from computers you are discarding, and make sure all personal data is deleted before disposal.

Protect your data. To protect your data, choose an EHR system that uses state-of-the-art encryption, cloud data storage, and regular data backups. Encryption will protect your data and block unauthorized access.

An added benefit of working with a secure EHR vendor is the ability to access your data in the event of a fire, flood, or natural disaster. With cloud data storage, you can access your records anytime from anywhere. Cloud EHR systems also include automatic, hourly data backups, which is a critical feature if your office computers are ever damaged or stolen.

[1]  Experian’s 2015 Data Breach Industry Forecast.

[2]  “2015 is already the year of the health-care hack — and it’s only going to get worse.” The Washington Post, March 20, 2015.

Boost EHR security: 5 features to look for

Choosing an EHR system that has the ability to keep your health records secure is more important than ever. This guide will help you learn the 5 key features you need in an EHR system to ensure top-level security.

Download the guide



Topic: EMR/EHR, Patient Experience


Other Resources Related to This Topic


EMR/EHR

A case for EHR: 5 myths of remaining status quo

When considering EHR, practices often remain status quo because it seems easier and less expensive...

EMR/EHR

The State of Electronic Health Records in 2024

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have revolutionized modern healthcare by transforming how patient information is stored,...

EMR/EHR

10 Ways Long COVID Has Crippled Healthcare Profitability

With COVID-19 fading into the clinical rearview mirror, the emphasis has now shifted to understanding...

“The money I have invested in AdvancedMD is miniscule compared to the return. I have never been more efficient – ever – in my professional life as I am now.”

Jed Shay, MD
The Pain Care Center

Read the story  ›

“[Our] patients are very well-educated and well-informed, and they want to see results quickly. The practice has to run extremely efficiently and be accessible to them. The nice thing about [AdvancedMD] is it has allowed me to be more efficient both in and out of the office. Now I don’t have to come back into the office, which is great for my family and everything else. It saves me a lot of time – probably an hour a day on the three days I work in the second office.”

Keith Berkowitz, MD
Center for Balanced Health

Read the story  ›
Estaban Lavato, MD - La Loma Medical Center

“The best thing I ever did in private practice was getting AdvancedMD—it has liberated me.”

Estaban Lavato, MD
La Loma Medical Center

“Having integrated practice management and EHR is absolutely wonderful, you don’t have to flip back and forth between systems—all of your information is at hand when needed.”

Raju Raval, MD

Read the story  ›