Spot and Avoid Highly Visible HIPAA Violations on the Internet

The Internet is flooded with highly visible HIPAA violations committed unknowingly by health care providers. These violations include numerous web-based tactics for patient engagement, attraction, and reputation management. The violations are highly visible, exposing providers to liability and patients to dangers including medical identity theft. But following some simple HIPAA compliance steps enables providers to engage patients effectively on the Internet and avoid these highly visible risks.

• Website HIPAA Compliance
• Patient engagement guidelines including the intersection of Facebook`s Terms of Use and HIPAA
• Addressing reviews by patients posted on Internet platforms

In sum: This webinar explains the HIPAA Safeguards that allow providers to continue effective Internet-based marketing and comply with HIPAA.

• HIPAA Rules covering Web Sites and Social Media
  •  Web Sites Subject to HIPAA Rules
  •  B 2 Simple Web Site – Social Media Safeguards
• HIPAA Rules Covering Patient Reviews
  • HIPAA Concern – Patient Reviews
  • Simple Patient Review Safeguards

Health care is a profession and also a highly competitive business. Providers, large and small, depend on marketing for organizational growth and stability. They know the Internet and social media are today`s marketplace where patients look for health care providers. However, providers employ Internet-based marketing and social media strategies that are acceptable for salons or car dealerships but violate HIPAA because they enable unauthorized identification of individual patients.

The HHS OIG warns on its website that medical identity theft is the fastest growing form of identity theft in the United States and criminals, using social engineering, need only two things to steal it: the identity of a patient and the identity of a provider. But providers can protect themselves if they follow simple administrative safeguards set out in the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

• Health Care Provider HIPAA compliance officials
• Health Care Provider staff tasked with practice growth, marketing, reputation, and image
• In-house and outside health law counsel
• Health Care Advertising, Marketing, and Social Media Consultants

C-suite and board of director members responsible for compliance oversight who likely are unaware of how to spot HIPAA violations by their organization on the Internet or simple solutions to avoid danger