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March 8, 2017

HIPAA Mandates Secure Shredding for the Medical Industry

The majority of healthcare professionals in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the rest of the United States realize the importance behind protecting patient medical records. Not only that, it’s simply imperative that this information is shred thoroughly when disposed of, to prevent the potential for medical records to be unknowingly exposed. Tossing medical records in your recycling bin or trash bin leaves your medical office extremely susceptible to information theft, and could very well leave your office legally liable, should one of your patients be affected. Remember that when you fail to shred sensitive patient records you could be in inadvertently supplying somebody with the information required to conduct information theft or fraud.

Bottom line is healthcare professionals receive and manage some of the most confidential information regarding their patients, which means it’s vital that they handle it with the highest level of care and security at all times. When outdated patient records have reached the end of their life-cycle and can, therefore, be disposed of, the destruction process must be monitored very carefully because of HIPAA regulations.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Chances are you’re well familiarized with HIPPA if you are a medical professional. HIPAA is legislation that mandates exactly how Fort Lauderdale healthcare institutions are permitted to look after medical records medical files or other key health material that’s considered “Protected Health Information”, or PHI. HIPAA requires that PHI be shredded thoroughly before it’s disposed of. In fact, under HIPAA legislation, it cannot be possible for health documents or electronic PHI to be read, reassembled or deciphered should records be accessed by individuals unauthorized to see them. Even while financial penalties continue to be issued each and every year for failing to dispose of patient records properly, covered entities are still failing to follow important rules set out by HIPAA.

If a medical institution fails to supply HIPAA-compliant destruction training to its employees, this can leave you vulnerable to lawsuits on the grounds of knowingly disregarding such regulations. This type of non-compliance can lead to the highest level of mandatory fines the HIPAA statutes allow.

PROSHRED® Fort Lauderdale will help you ensure that all of your PHI documents are properly and professionally shred before they leave your property. Our team has extensive experience in the destruction of healthcare documents, medical charge, and other PHI material. Allow us to look after your HIPAA destruction compliance.

Contact PROSHRED® Fort Lauderdale to learn more about our shredding services. We’ll assist in keeping your medical office compliant and protected from outside threats.

Reach us at 1-954-507-0211 to discuss with us your options.

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