Modern, digitally equipped hospitals have emerged as hotbeds of sensitive medical data. With the increasing digitalization of the healthcare sector, more and more medical data is being generated every day across the globe. In fact, some estimates believe that 30% of the total data generated in the world has a medical origin and purpose, with an astonishing Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 36% to date. In such a scenario, malicious actors have also risen to the surface, trying to take advantage of a sector still grappling with data-intensive technology. The onus is on hospitals, as the source and keeper of data, to protect it from getting into the wrong hands.
What Kind of Data is Collected in Healthcare?
Hospitals and healthcare institutions collect all sorts of data to provide the best possible service to patients. The data collected depends on a host of factors, including the level of treatment required, insurance status, demographics (age and gender), and legal regulations.
The following types of data are collected.
1. Identifiers
This includes information required to correctly assuage the identity of the patient, including:
- Name
- Address
- Social Security Number
- Contact information (email and mobile number)
2. Medical History
This data is related to the patient’s medical history. It gives medical professionals a holistic view of the medical past of the patient. It can consist of:
- Treatment history (diagnosis and progress notes)
- Laboratory test results
- Prescriptions
- Imaging reports
- Allergy information
- Immunization and vaccination records
3. Biometric Data
This data can be used to biometrically verify the identity of the patient. It can be one or more of the following:
- Fingerprint
- Retina scan
- Facial recognition
- Genetic data
4. Financial Information
This information can be used by the healthcare provider to conduct financial transactions. It includes:
- Debit or credit card number
- Bank account number
- Insurance policy and claim number
- Billing or invoice number
5. Psychological Diagnostics
Everything under this section is used to ascertain the psychological and mental health history of the patient.
- Therapy notes
- Medication list
- Mental health diagnostics
- Substance abuse record
6. Lifestyle and Social Information
It includes all the lifestyle and social aspects of an individual that can have a direct impact on his/her health.
- Dietary habits and preferences
- Exercise regimen (if any)
- Social determinants of health like living conditions, income level, etc.
7. Legal and Admin Data
This section deals with all the legal bits, such as:
- Ongoing insurance disputes or relevant legal disputes
- Record of legal guardianship or power of attorney
- All relevant consent forms
How is Medical Data Protected?
It is the responsibility of the medical institutions who collect this valuable patient data to safeguard and protect it from malicious actors at all costs. In fact, American acts like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) aim to address this issue, dividing the rules and responsibilities by the letter of the law HIPAA deals with patient consent, whereas HITECH aims to promote digitization of medical records for greater transparency.
In such a scenario, all the stakeholders of the medical institution, including the healthcare workers from specialists, to graduate doctors, to those doing clinical placement in online MSN FNP programs, must be diligent and follow the rule of the law when it comes to patient data. This can be done in many ways.
1. Data Encryption
Encrypting data can minimize exposure to unauthorized third parties. All sensitive data should undergo strong encryption algorithms like AES-256 (for data storage) and TLS 1.2/1.3 (for transmission). Having endpoint encryption for devices trying to access the data can be a smarter strategy. Granting access based on user role on a need-to-know basis can avoid the spilling of data within the organization.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
To add a layer of security beyond guessable passwords, add multi-factor authentication to the data access procedure. HIPAA mandates the use of MFA as well. A knowledge factor (password, PIN, or security question) can be combined with a possession factor (OTP or smart card) to form multiple layers of security. It is important to have backup security options for continued access to the database.
3. Logging and Auditing
Accurate log tracking should be enabled to monitor data access. Any change, extraction, or sharing in a particular session should also be recorded. Having a high-security tamperproof system is a must in this case of medical data. Logs should be periodically audited scrupulously for any suspicious activity. All the log details should be stored in a central data management system where third parties have little to no access.
In the age of rising cybercrime, hospitals and medical institutions must be on the front foot regarding data protection. Hospitals collect all sorts of sensitive patient data, including medical, lifestyle, financial, and mental health records. Adhering the legislation like HIPAA and HITECH is key to avoiding huge fines and more importantly, reputational damage. Medical organizations can level up the data encryption, enable multi-factor authentication, and beef up the logging activity and audit to tighten data security.