Assignment: Safeguarding Health Information and Systems Essay
Assignment: Safeguarding Health Information and Systems Essay
In some health care organizations, nurses are allowed to bring in their own devices. Such devices include network-enabled laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The use of these devices is growing at an increasing rate even though they are hardly regulated. The devices present security issues associated with the information in them being stolen or lost. If a nurse has saved personal health information in them, there is a risk of the healthcare organization facing a data breach. Health care information system administrators should ensure that the correct devices are integrated for use in the workplace and that there are controls in personal use (McBride, LeVasseur & Li, 2015). The use of a personal device to access patient information poses a risk of accidental loss or theft of patient information, especially if the device is protected or encrypted through a password or other measures.
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In family nursing practice, the use of BYODs presents the problem of potential theft of the device itself or the saved information. Such thefts may result in a healthcare data breach, according to Bromwich and Bromwich (2016). In order to address these issues, health
Assignment Safeguarding Health Information and Systems Essay
Assignment Safeguarding Health Information and Systems Essay
care organizations should implement procedures and policies to specify proper access to and use of electronic media and workstations. These policies should require appropriate procedures for removal, transfer, re-use, and disposal of electronic media (Gordon, 2015). This can help ensure that electronically protected health information is protected appropriately (HIPAA Journal, 2019).
In my family nursing practice, security issues linked to the use of BYODs are addressed through a policy that defines the right devices to use in accessing the health care IT network. The devices must be supported to connect to the network, and the nurse practitioners need to understand the security risks presented by the use of the devices. Users have to adhere to the policy rules regarding the storage and sharing of private health information.
A new concept for some organizations is to allow nurses to bring in their own devices known as bring your own devices (BYOD) to use at work. What are some of the security issues you might encounter if this were allowed? How would you address these issues? How is this issue addressed in your practice setting?