As a healthcare provider, one of the most important responsibilities that you have is to protect patient health information. This is a responsibility that health care providers must take seriously as they have an ethical duty to protect this type of information.
By law, health care providers, as well as all those persons (e.g., office managers) who come in contact with patient health information must safeguard it. This is mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Health care providers, as well as persons who have access to patient health information, should consider obtaining HIPAA certification.
Are you looking to get your HIPAA certification? These are the most important things you need to consider before you begin.
Seven Things You Need to Know About the HIPAA Certification
HIPAA was signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. HIPAA was enacted with several goals in mind. One of the main goals was to establish rules that health care providers and staff at health care organizations must follow to protect patient health information.
This information is confidential. It has to be protected from theft and fraud. All health care providers need to be knowledgeable of this law and comply with it.
Health care providers, companies, and health care organizations that want to prove they comply with HIPAA should seek to obtain HIPAA certification. If you plan to obtain HIPAA certification you have to keep in mind that it is part of a process.
Is HIPAA Certification Mandated
You may be asking, “Is it mandatory to obtain HIPAA certification?” The answer to this question will surprise you. Quite frankly, there are no requirements that mandate you obtain HIPAA certification.
There is no legal requirement whatsoever. Despite there being no legal requirement, you still have to demonstrate that you comply with HIPAA. This is not to be taken lightly.
The Purpose of HIPAA Certification
If there is no legal requirement to obtain HIPAA certification, you may ask, “What’s the point of wasting time and money to obtain HIPAA certification?” This is a great question. By obtaining HIPAA certification, you demonstrate to patients that you comply with HIPAA .
This certification shows patients that you are taking the necessary steps to protect their personal information. This certification demonstrates that you are well-versed with HIPAA and understand that a patient’s personal information is private and confidential.
Obtaining HIPAA Certification
To obtain HIPAA certification, you must look for a third-party organization that offers HIPAA certification. A great third-party organization will provide various services to help you obtain the HIPAA certification.
Among the services that an organization can offer include risk assessment to determine if there are any issues related to HIPAA need to be addressed, staff training to help them learn about HIPAA and measures that can be used to protect patient health information, as well as remediation to address issues that were found during the risk assessment.
Also consider finding a third-party organization that offers a course that you can enroll in. After the successful completion of the course, you will be issued a HIPAA certification.
What is Covered by the HIPAA Training
If you are considering obtaining HIPAA certification you want to be prepared to undergo training. The training will cover various topics related to HIPAA . More than likely, you will learn about password management, measures to protect against malicious software, and the importance of confidentiality.
The training that you undergo will allow you to learn more about HIPAA .
Does HIPAA Certification Have to Be Renewed
Because HIPAA certification is not regulated, there are no guidelines regarding HIPAA certification renewal. A good practice is to undergo HIPAA training on an annual basis. Consider this as part of your duty to engage in lifelong learning.
All health care providers, as well as covered entities must be familiar with HIPAA .
Think About Your Reputation
Finally, you want to take the time to consider your reputation before you get your HIPAA certification. As a health care provider, you want to make sure that you demonstrate to your patients that you value them by protecting their personal information.
You want to show them that you are taking all the possible measures to protect their personal information. One of the most important factors that patients want to have is trust. Complying with HIPAA is one of the most effective ways to build trust with a patient.
Be proud of the HIPAA certification, so hang it up on the office wall so that patients can see it.
Start the Process to Get HIPAA Certified
If you are a covered entity, you will need to comply with HIPAA as it is the law. This is an important law that health care providers must be proficient with. Health care providers must understand their role per HIPAA guidelines.
Health care providers must take the necessary steps to protect their patient’s personal information. Patients need to know that their personal information is being protected so that it does not get into the wrong hands. Any breaches that occur can lead to poor outcomes and legal actions.
If you want to demonstrate to your patients that you are proficient with HIPAA and take the actions necessary to protect patient health information consider obtaining HIPAA certification.
If you would like more information about HIPAA certification continue to explore our website. If you want to inquire about obtaining the HIPAA certification to show compliance with HIPAA contact us.
