By Healthcare Facilities Today

There’s a perfect storm brewing on the healthcare security and privacy horizon that will stretch the resources of healthcare provider organizations as they face challenges on multiple fronts, according to a blog on the Healthcare Informatics website.

First, providers will face steeper fines for breaches, backed up with tighter enforcement. Plus, rapidly evolving medical devices, coupled with the emergence of mobile devices in the workplace, are requiring that providers reevaluate their security policies. 

At the same time, new care delivery and communication models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) and health information exchanges (HIEs), are remaking the healthcare delivery landscape—and the security and privacy policies that go with it. the blog said.

"As if this was not enough, these developments have been taking place at a time when data breaches at healthcare provider organizations are on the rise. In 2013, medical identity theft was up 20 percent compared to the year before, according to a report released last September by the Traverse City, Mich.-based Ponemon Institute. Malicious attacks have increased in number as well as the level of sophistication, say experts," wrote blogger Micky Tripathi.

Meeting security challenges and protecting patient data will require extra vigilance, as well as rethinking how technology and policy decisions can help minimize those risks, according to the article.

Read the blog.

For a list of 99 resources for electronic health records, check out the Medical Billing Degree website.