{"id":57376,"date":"2023-05-26T10:58:36","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T14:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=57376"},"modified":"2023-08-09T07:57:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T11:57:56","slug":"data-security-tips-for-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/data-security-tips-for-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Data Security Tips for Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet Unsafe Urkel.<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s always doing the wrong things when it comes to securing his data. He\u2019s that guy who writes his passwords on sticky notes and leaves them out in the open for anyone to see. Urkel likes to use the same password for everything and doesn\u2019t think twice about clicking on a suspicious email.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to protecting his health data — probably some of the most critical data in his life — Urkel just can’t be bothered. It doesn’t even occur to him to take steps to safeguard his personal medical information.<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, Unsafe Urkel is not alone in his behavior. Many patients need to be aware of the risks associated with sharing their health data and take the necessary precautions to keep their information safe.<\/p>\n

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So, how can patients keep their health data safe?<\/p>\n

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Here are some best practices we\u2019re going to dive into:<\/p>\n

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  1. Use strong passwords and change them often.<\/li>\n
  2. Be careful with emails and links.<\/li>\n
  3. Use secure websites.<\/li>\n
  4. Keep software up to date.<\/li>\n
  5. Be cautious with public Wi-Fi.<\/li>\n
  6. Ask providers about their security measures.<\/li>\n
  7. Review and monitor health records.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Best practices for patient data security<\/h2>\n

    No shame here! I\u2019ve made some of these same mistakes myself. Over the past few years, as technology has rapidly evolved, both personal and professional data security practices have struggled to keep up. In 2020 alone, the healthcare industry accounted for 79.6% of all reported data breaches in the United States, making it the most targeted sector for cyberattacks. As we continue to find new innovations in healthcare technologies, sharing your data with intent, knowing how to protect it, and your rights as a patient are important.<\/p>\n

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    So, let\u2019s look at how Urkel doesn\u2019t do so well and how you can do much better!<\/p>\n

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    1. Use strong passwords and change them often <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Unsafe Urkel thinks he\u2019s being clever by using his pet\u2019s name as his password, but that\u2019s the first thing a hacker would try. It\u2019s tied to your personal information, and there are plenty of ways for people to find that out\u2014especially from social media!<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols to create a strong password. Changing your password regularly, at least every 90 days, and avoiding using the same password for multiple accounts is also recommended. For added security, make passwords at least 8 characters long\u2014although 12 is even better!<\/p>\n

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    2. Be careful with emails and links <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    You know Unsafe Urkel. He will click on any link that comes his way, but that\u2019s how you fall prey to phishing scams. These scams are designed to trick people into revealing their personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. They are even great at mirroring legitimate businesses to trick you.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should always verify the source of an email or link before clicking on it. If it seems suspicious, they should delete it immediately. If the email asks you to confirm a password change or information when you didn\u2019t request it, don\u2019t click on any links in the email and contact your provider directly.<\/p>\n

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    3. Use secure websites <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Unsafe Urkel ignores the website he\u2019s visiting as long as he gets what he wants. The \u201cthis site is unsafe\u201d page is his favorite. It seems silly, but many people click \u201ccontinue anyway\u201d and go to sites that aren\u2019t secure. But some websites are not secure and can expose your data to hackers.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should only use secure websites, indicated by the https:\/\/ in the website address, when entering personal or financial information. The \u201cs\u201d lets you know that the website has security certification!<\/p>\n

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    \"\"<\/p>\n

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    4. Keep software up to date <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Unsafe Urkel doesn\u2019t bother updating his software because he thinks it\u2019s a waste of time and totally unnecessary. Many software updates include security patches to fix vulnerabilities that hackers can otherwise exploit.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should make sure their software is up to date, including their operating system, browser, and any other applications they use.<\/p>\n

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    5. Be cautious with public Wi-Fi <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    I bet you guessed it already! Yep, Unsafe Urkel likes to connect to any public Wi-Fi network he can find, but that\u2019s a risky move. Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, meaning anyone can access the transmitted information.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should avoid using public Wi-Fi networks to access sensitive information, such as their health data unless they use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt their data.<\/p>\n

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    6. Ask providers about their security measures <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Unsafe Urkel assumes that his providers have everything under control, but he should ask them about their security measures to make sure.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should ask their providers about their data encryption, access controls, and other security measures they have in place to protect their health data.<\/p>\n

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    Want to get a closer look at what security questions to ask?<\/strong>
    \nListen in!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    7. Review and monitor health records <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Unsafe Urkel doesn\u2019t bother reviewing his health records because he thinks they\u2019re boring. But reviewing and monitoring health records can help patients identify any errors or fraudulent activity, leading to better patient outcomes and personalized healthcare.<\/p>\n

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    What can you do instead? <\/em><\/p>\n

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    Patients should review their health records regularly and report any errors or suspicious activity to their providers. By checking their records regularly, patients can also improve their patient experiences<\/a> by catching mistakes or potential flags before an issue occurs.<\/p>\n

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    These best practices are essential for patients to keep their health data safe. Following these guidelines, patients can protect their personal and sensitive information from cybercriminals who want to exploit it for financial gain or other malicious purposes.<\/p>\n

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    Your Rights as a Patient <\/strong><\/p>\n

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    In addition to these best practices, patients should know their rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)<\/a>. HIPAA is a federal law that protects patients\u2019 health information from unauthorized disclosure.<\/p>\n

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    What are some of the rights found in the HIPAA Act?<\/p>\n

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