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This is the fourth episode in the 8-part series, Health Information Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures orientation training.
Welcome Back to the Privacy Procedure Orientation Training series!
This training series is part of the Health Information Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures that your clinic has purchased.
In this episode, we focus on the many ways to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal health information. It’s important to recognize that no single method is sufficient; instead, we rely on multiple layers of protection to secure sensitive data.
The Three Types of Safeguards
When handling health information, we must consider how to protect it at every stage—collection, use, and disclosure. There are three common types of safeguards:
Administrative Safeguards
Administrative safeguards are typically written procedures that establish the foundation for secure information handling. This includes having documented privacy procedures, oaths of confidentiality, and consent forms. Written policies and procedures help ensure that staff and healthcare providers follow the correct protocols when accessing and managing patient information.
Technical Safeguards
Technical safeguards are often associated with electronic systems, such as computers or EMR systems. This includes requiring unique user IDs, passwords and MFA to restrict access to personal health information. Technical protections help ensure that only authorized individuals can access sensitive data.
Physical Safeguards
Physical safeguards are tangible measures that protect health information. Examples include restricted access to work areas or locks on doors. These safeguards prevent unauthorized individuals from physically accessing patient information or sensitive documents.
Information Handling Policies and Procedures
Open your Health Information Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures Manual to Policy 5: Information Handling. This section outlines the reasonable safeguards that custodians must implement to protect the privacy and security of health information, as required by the Health Information Act.
Written privacy procedures are essential safeguards that all healthcare clinics should have in place. However, simply having these policies is not enough—it’s equally important to understand and implement them in daily operations.
Take time to carefully review your clinic’s Information Handling policies and procedures to ensure compliance and protection of patient data.
Remember, if you have questions, speak with your supervisor, clinic manager, or privacy officer.
Next Episode: Research, Security, and Wireless Communication
In the next episode, we will explore how to handle health information in research and the specific challenges related to wireless communication security.
Stay tuned!
Don’t Have Written Privacy Policies and Procedures Yet?
If your clinic hasn’t yet purchased the Health Information Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures templates from Information Managers Ltd., don’t worry! You can still follow along with this training and refer to your current clinic’s procedures.
If you don’t have written policies in place yet, now is a great time to get started. Check out our customizable templates to help your healthcare practice stay compliant and protect patient information. Learn more at https://informationmanagers.ca/policy-and-procedure-template/.
