Mobile devices are allowing health care workers 24-7 access to critical information from virtually anywhere. While mobile computing in health care is reducing costs and improving quality care, they pose huge security risks to patient information.
In less than two years, from September 22, 2009 through May 8, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights indicated that 116 data breaches of 500 records or more were the direct result of loss or theft of a mobile device, exposing more than 1.9 million patients’ PHI [Personal Health Information].
What's surprising about this report is that the biggest cause of breaches isn’t from hackers but from the theft or loss of mobile devices. The issue of data breaches isn’t a new one, but it is coming into greater focus with mobile devices increasing popularity.
Rick Kam, president and co-founder, ID Experts, gives a number of suggestions for protecting sensitive patient data. Among them:
• Whenever possible, don’t store sensitive data on wireless devices. If required, ensure the data is encrypted.
• Enable password protection on wireless devices, and configure the lock screen to come on after a short period of inactivity.
• Turn on the Remote Wipe feature of wireless devices.
Bottom line, to mitigate the loss when a mobile device has been stolen or lost a solid mobile device security plan must be in place.
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