We are all familiar with this phrase but what exactly is the “cloud”? “Cloud” is a buzzword used to describe a network of servers with different functions housed in difference places throughout the world.
Anthem Inc, the largest health insurance company in the nation, has agreed to settle litigation in what is said to be the largest settlement ever for a data breach.
Cybercrime continues to generate huge profits for criminals so it’s no secret that hackers are getting more sophisticated with their attacks. Ransomware is a malicious piece of software designed to block access to a computer system until payment is received.
The Electronic Health Record (EHR) has proven to provide more efficient access to patient information thus streamlining workflows and positively impacting patient care. The University provides employees with access to the EHR as a means to carry out the normal functions of their job.
On April 30, 2018, a physician in Springfield, Massachusetts was convicted of a criminal HIPAA violation and obstructing a criminal health care investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ was investigating the pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott for suspected healthcare fraud related to illegal marketing practices and for providing payments to physicians in return for higher prescription rates.
Text messaging has become a major part of how we communicate. Texting is an essential and valuable means of communication, particularly among healthcare team members. One of the many benefits of messaging over mobile phone apps is that they facilitate rapid dissemination and interaction. But this ease of dissemination can cause real problems for physicians and hospitals if the information is disclosed improperly. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Commission take the position that texting of orders is prohibited.
You may have noticed an influx of emails regarding privacy policies and terms of service updates. Companies everywhere are rushing to update their policies and be in compliant with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulation. The GDPR is a new, European data privacy regulation that goes into effect May 25, 2018 and will be enforced internationally.
At UHealth, vendors and industry representatives play an important role in patient care, education and research. From the purchasing of devices to implementation in operating rooms, medical faculty and staff often interact with vendors and industry representatives at various levels. These interactions support UHealth but must be properly managed to maintain patient safety and the integrity of the Health System.
Imagine you are browsing the internet when all of the sudden a window pops up with an alarming message: “You’re machine is being compromised!” or “Your machine is engaged in illegal activity!” These windows are an attempt by cyber criminals to induce panic and steal your information. Find out how to avoid these cybercrimes and protect yourself.
System access is a privilege. As a University employee, you receive a Confidentiality and Acceptable Use Agreement and a HIPAA and Computer Usage Form.
Covered entities are required to enter into a contract with the business associate under the HIPAA regulation to ensure that they will appropriately safeguard protected health information.
Reviews of user access logs are required by the HIPAA regulations to protect the privacy of patient information and to detect any unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
The Office of HIPAA Privacy & Security continues to provide live Privacy and Security training sessions for University faculty and staff.
The Office of HIPAA Privacy and Security, in collaboration with the IRB, CTSI, and UHealth, has established a “data broker” program.
The Office of HIPAA Privacy and Security conducts random unannounced walkthroughs of the various sites of service of the University of Miami Health System.
In late 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the U.S., reported a massive data breach. On May 7, 2018, Equifax executives provided a statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that detailed the extent of consumer data that had been exposed. When all is said and done, this breach may cost Equifax upwards of $600 million, making it one of the most costly breaches in history.
The Office of Privacy and Data Security conducts random unannounced walkthroughs of various UHealth sites in order to review practices that safeguard protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Office would like to congratulate the following sites for having no current privacy deficiencies in 2018.
Patient photographs are used for a variety of reasons related to medical care. Patient photographs taken in a clinical setting become part of a patient’s designated record set as Protected Health Information (PHI) and thus should be treated with the same privacy, confidentiality and safeguards as any other part of the medical record.
On June 28, 2018, a former patient coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) was indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts for wrongfully obtaining and disclosing protected health information (PHI). The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled this case and brought it to indictment.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights orders the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to pay $4,348,000 in civil penalties for HIPAA violations. This settlement, the fourth largest monetary settlement with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), was affirmed this summer by an administrative law judge from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
It’s that time of year again! School is in session and whether you are a student, parent, faculty or staff, it is important to follow some essential security tips and reminders. The new school year brings new opportunities for hackers, cyber criminals and identity thieves.
Mark your calendars! The University of Miami’s third annual Compliance and Ethics Week will take place November 5-9, 2018. Compliance fairs and seminars will be held across all three campuses and provide a unique opportunity for faculty and staff to engage and learn about the University’s various compliance and ethics initiatives.
The Office of Privacy and Data Security conducts random unannounced walkthroughs of various UHealth sites in order to review practices that safeguard protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Office would like to congratulate the following sites for having no current privacy deficiencies.
Anthem Inc., a licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield and one of the largest health insurance companies in the nation, has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) a record $16 million greatly surpassing the previous high of $5.55 million paid to OCR in 2016. What caused the largest U.S. health data breach in history? Cyber-attacks through spear phishing emails.
Email continues to be the most popular method for cyber-attacks. According to a study conducted by FireEye, one in 101 emails contains a malicious hacking attempt such as “phishing”. Phishing is a form of fraudulent solicitation in which an email is cleverly disguised to appear to be from trusted brands such as banks, credit card companies, online retailers or even one of your friends.
The Office of Privacy and Data Security conducts random unannounced walkthroughs of various UHealth sites in order to review practices that safeguard protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Office would like to congratulate the following sites for having no current privacy deficiencies.
The Privacy Office, in conjunction with UMIT, held its second annual Data Privacy Day on February 6. It was exciting to see the UM community come together to learn about the importance of privacy in our evolving world. One of the University’s distinguished faculty members, Dr. Mary Anne Franks, was the featured speaker and presented “Privacy at the Intersection,” a discussion of how privacy trends and the development of new technologies affect society’s most vulnerable populations.
As technology evolves, privacy and security continue to be a growing area of concern, and the risk of data breaches continues to increase. According to HIPAA Journal, 2018 has seen a total of 365 breaches by covered entities, totaling a massive $28.7 million in financial penalties, which is nearly a 50% increase from 2017.
Have you filed your taxes yet? Tax season is upon us, and you aren’t the only one preparing paperwork; criminals go into overdrive ready to steal your information. Criminals know how profitable it can be for them to file fake tax returns, and hence are constantly inventing new schemes to maliciously obtain your personal information. Protecting yourself from tax fraud and identity theft takes time and vigilance.
The Office of Privacy and Data Security conducts random unannounced walkthroughs of various UHealth sites in order to review practices that safeguard protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Office would like to congratulate the following sites for having no current privacy deficiencies. Thank you for your effort to protect patient privacy and reduce privacy related incidents!