HIPAA: Address Risk Factors with These 3 Tips

Why This Topic Matters

It shows how OCR enforcement can follow gaps in risk analysis and safeguards, making it relevant for organizations that manage ePHI and need to understand broad HIPAA security priorities.

Article Sections

1. Context

   Provides background on the enforcement action and the organizations involved. Summarizes the general compliance areas implicated and why the matter drew attention from OCR.

2. Quell Violations with This Advice

   Introduces practical compliance focus areas based on the enforcement example. Frames the remainder of the article around broad risk-reduction topics for HIPAA-covered organizations.

3. 1. Confirm physical safeguards are rock solid

   Covers facility and equipment protection as part of HIPAA security planning. Discusses general oversight of access, inventory, and physical security controls.

4. 2. Outline the access, movement, and removal of practice HIT

   Addresses management of health information technology and related administrative oversight. Focuses on organizing responsibility, movement of devices or media, and coordination of security roles.

5. 3. Encrypt ePHI and maintain device control

   Discusses broader device protection and data safeguarding practices. Emphasizes protective measures for portable technology, access control, and data security programs.