HIM_4-1 Short Paper_Responding to a Data Breach
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Ultimate Medical Academy, Tampa *
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HM2015
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Information Systems
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by ChiefWolfPerson690
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RESPONDING TO A DATA BREACH
HIM-425-J7601 Healthcare IT Infrastructure
4-1 Short Paper: Responding to a Data Breach
Nichelle Jenkins
Southern New Hampshire University
Professor Leslie Marcozzi
March 31, 2024
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RESPONDING TO A DATA BREACH
Healthcare organizations must ensure that they have proper protocols in place to protect patient data from unauthorized access or breaches. This includes implementing encryption, firewalls, and other security measures to safeguard sensitive information. In this scenario of a computer with sensitive health information left unattended and subsequently stolen, the healthcare organization would be held accountable for the patient data breach due to a lack of proper security measures. It is crucial for healthcare organizations to regularly assess and update their security protocols to mitigate risks and maintain patient trust.
The theft of four laptops from Advocate Health Care in Chicago may have jeopardized
the personal information of up to four million patients. The event is one of the largest healthcare breaches ever and affected patients have filed a class action lawsuit. Two laptops belonging to a California hospital company were stolen in Los Angeles, putting 729,000 patients' health and personal information at risk. A laptop computer with unencrypted demographic information for 5,500 patients was stolen from Seton Healthcare Family's McCarthy Community Health Center in Austin, Texas. The HIPAA Omnibus Rule introduces
new standards for assessing and responding to health information breaches, with penalties varying based on violation severity, harm caused, compliance history, and financial condition (West, 2014). The potential impact of this data breach could result in hefty fines and penalties
under HIPAA regulations, as well as damage to the organization's reputation and loss of patient trust. In handling this incident, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation, notify affected individuals, report the breach to the appropriate authorities, and implement corrective actions to prevent future breaches.
The first step I would take in dealing with data-related incidents is to launch a thorough investigation to ascertain the scope of the breach and uncover any weaknesses in our systems.
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RESPONDING TO A DATA BREACH
Second, I would swiftly tell impacted individuals and offer them advice on how to protect themselves from damage. Third, I would notify the relevant regulatory agencies of the violation and follow their procedures for dealing with similar situations. Finally, I would take corrective action, such as improving security procedures and providing personnel training, to prevent similar breaches in the future. One strategy could be to regularly conduct security audits and penetration testing to proactively identify and address any weaknesses in our systems. Implementing a robust incident response plan that outlines clear steps to take in the event of a breach can help minimize the impact and ensure a swift and effective response.
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RESPONDING TO A DATA BREACH
Reference
West K. (2014). Patient medical information at risk from stolen computers.
Missouri medicine
,
111
(1), 10–12.