The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted in 1996, is a U.S. federal law designed to protect sensitive patient health information. It sets national standards for securing patient health information, including electronic protected health information (ePHI), and ensures individuals can access their health records. HIPAA also standardizes electronic healthcare transactions and promotes the privacy and confidentiality of health data across the healthcare sector.
Learn more about what HIPAA is and about how complying with the regulations it sets forth affects how you keep records so you can keep your patients’ data safe.
HIPAA Violations: Avoid Fines and Penalties
HIPAA compliance is crucial to protect patient information and avoid costly fines. Violations can cost from hundreds to millions of dollars and damage a healthcare organization’s reputation and financial stability. Non-compliance also erodes trust between patients and providers, emphasizing the importance of proper training and adherence to regulations.
Stay Informed
Keeping yourself and your staff informed about HIPAA requirements can keep your practice compliant and reduce the risks of data leaks or improper handling. Staying updated on regulations, conducting regular risk assessments, and implementing strong policies are essential for a solid compliance strategy. Identifying vulnerabilities in data security or procedural gaps helps address issues before they become violations. With ongoing education and vigilance, healthcare organizations can build a compliance culture that protects patient information and upholds ethical standards.
Use a Secure System
You can also use a secure patient management system to make sure that your staff handles ePHI with care. Sunwave Health is a HIPAA-compliant CRM, EMR, and RCM system that keeps your patients’ data safe while making it easy to work with. By having everything in one place and managing access for each staff member, workflows become more efficient without having to worry about who can view specific patient information.
Examples of HIPAA Violations
HIPAA violations occur when there is a failure to comply with the laws and regulations designed to protect patient health information. These breaches can take many forms, often stemming from negligence, lack of awareness, or intentional misconduct. Below are some common examples of HIPAA violations:
Unauthorized Access to Patient Records
Accessing patient health records without a legitimate medical or professional reason violates HIPAA regulations. This includes cases where employees snoop into the records of friends, family members, or high-profile individuals out of curiosity.
Failure to Encrypt Sensitive Data
Storing or transmitting unencrypted personal health information (PHI) increases the risk of data breaches. Encryption is a critical safeguard prescribed by HIPAA laws to protect data from unauthorized access during digital communication or storage.
Improper Disposal of Patient Records
Throwing away paper records with PHI in unsecured trash bins or failing to delete electronic data properly can expose sensitive patient information, leading to violations.
Lack of Employee Training
Insufficient training on HIPAA requirements often leads to misunderstandings or inadvertent violations. Employees may mistakenly share or mishandle PHI, putting the organization at risk of compliance issues.
Disclosing PHI Without Consent
Sharing patient information externally, whether with other healthcare providers, unauthorized third parties, or even family members, without the patient’s explicit consent is a direct violation of HIPAA regulations unless permitted under certain exceptions.
Lost or Stolen Devices Containing PHI
Mobile devices, laptops, or USB drives that store PHI must be secured. The loss or theft of an unsecured device containing sensitive information is a serious violation and can result in significant penalties.
Failure to Conduct Risk Assessments
Organizations are required to conduct regular risk assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities in data protection processes. Ignoring this requirement can lead to preventable breaches and subsequent violations.
Sunwave can help you stay HIPPA-compliant. Secure access—designated by user role—ensures that the right people can access the right data at the right time without interruption.
Stay Compliant with Sunwave Health
With advanced security features, customizable workflows, and ongoing support, Sunwave empowers organizations to safeguard protected health information effectively. Trust Sunwave Health to simplify compliance and prioritize patient privacy—call 561.576.6037 or contact us online to schedule a demo today.
