90 likes | 186 Views
Confidentiality& Privacy. HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996 From this legislation a set of security standards was developed to keep electronic protected health information ( ePHI ) safe
E N D
HIPAA • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996 • From this legislation a set of security standards was developed to keep electronic protected health information (ePHI) safe • These standards were outlined and described in the HIPAA Security Final Rule published on February 20, 2003
Recommended Security Strategies for Video-Enabled Telemedicine • Administrative Recommendations • Physical Recommendations • Technical Recommendations
Administrative Recommendations • Perform a risk assessment • Consider purchasing and distributing asset management software to keep track of equipment licenses • Register for security release notices from the hardware and software manufacturers used for televideo • Disable unnecessary ports on televideo hardware and follow any device “hardening” procedures recommended by the hardware and software manufacturers to prevent hacking
Administrative Recommendations cont. • Ensure unique user identification by enacting a strong password policy for televideo devices, including PC-based video systems • Assign a security person and train remote site IT staff to take on security responsibilities • Establish a schedule for re-evaluations: Elapsed time and changes to the televideo environment will dictate this schedule • Create a televideo acceptable use policy (AUP) and make available to remote sites for use
Physical Recommendations • Place televideo equipment in a private location that can be secured for a clinical visit. Doors to the room should be closed during a consultation. • Video monitors should not be visible through any windows. Audio should be set so that it is not heard outside of the exam room. • Telemedicine providers should use the camera functions to scan the patient room prior to a consultation to ensure that only authorized persons are present during the visit.
Technical Recommendations • Video equipment used for telemedicine should be networked behind the data firewall when placed on a facility network • An H.323-protocol firewall can be used as a “video” firewall for televideo that manages and protects the consultation separate from the organization’s data firewall • The IP connection between facilities in a televideo network should ideally be a dedicated local area network (LAN) connection, wide area network (WAN) connection, or a virtual private network (VPN) connection
Technical Recommendations cont. 4. When available, utilize private, statewide networks that have been developed for health care purposes and that offer robust, secure network connections • Video equipment should offer encryption capability and the encryption should be turned to the “on” position. Encryption should always be used, but especially in the absence of a LAN, WAN, VPN or state networks • The auto answer function of the televideo equipment should be set at the “off” position so that video calls cannot unintentionally be received during a telemedicine consultation