The #1 HIPAA Mindset Trap That Holds Leaders Back

Friends, did you know:

The average HIPAA settlement fine is approximately $1.1 million. This average is only increasing as HHS becomes more aggressive in enforcing HIPAA regulations. (Becker’s Healthcare)

Ahhh, good ole’ HIPPA.

As you can see from the statistic, the government values this area so much they are enforcing fines on healthcare organizations almost daily.

With cybersecurity and breaches at an all-time high, this is probably one of the most critical areas to ensure your practice is safe and technical standards are in place.

Therefore, like part two in this series, leaders must:

#3: Enforce HIPAA guidelines to protect patient privacy.

When was the last time you reevaluated whether your team, business associates, or vendors followed HIPAA closely?

I see practices trapped in the “seniority” mindset, such as:

“Oh _____ (insert employee name here) knows all about HIPAA, and I don’t need to keep repeating information.”

Or what about the “everything is ok” mindset, like: 

“Our cybersecurity program is just fine. I don’t need to follow up with the IT department constantly.”

It’s time for a mindset shift.

We can no longer assume our employees, business associates, or vendors are HIPAA “superstars.” The only way to know is to test their knowledge by asking questions, providing employee trainings/quizzes, and staying informed on everything HIPAA.

If you want to test the safety of your compliance program, start monitoring the people closest to HIPAA and ensuring they are following the regulations.   

*The opinions and observations from Joi Sherrod/group are not a promise to exempt your practice from fines and penalties.  Research, modify and tailor the advice to fit your specialty.

**Click here for the next tip in the series.