By Healthcare Facilities Today

According to an article on the Security Info Watch website, healthcare IT departments can make it difficult for providers to deliver fast and efficient care in a secure, compliant manner. IT policies and technology can become a roadblock, forcing doctors and nurses to decide whether to bypass IT policies to deliver care faster or work within the boundaries of security and compliance. 

It’s hard to argue that prioritizing patient care is wrong, but in doing so, many healthcare professionals are turning to insecure, third-party tools to get the job done, according to the article. This can put confidential patient information at risk.

Bridging the gap between IT and health professionals can keep security breaches to a minimum. The article lists five ways IT can better collaborate with care providers to eliminate data breaches and prioritize patient security.

1. Walk in your colleagues’ shoes

Most third-party tools present major risks, but can you really blame your employees for using them if you’re not providing them with a better means to move and access information?

2. Eliminate destructive habits

A portion of that responsibility is limiting the insecure and non-compliant tools available to medical professionals. 

3. Provide secure, encrypted, productivity-enabling tool

If your department takes action to prohibit the use of certain ways of doing business, be sure you’re providing a reasonable alternative solution that meets your end users' day-to-day business needs.

4. Educate employees around security risks

IT knows the boundaries of security and compliance. It is critical to educate the workforce around the organization’s policies as well as overarching regulatory requirements set at a federal level.

5. Drive adoption

Health providers can tell you what they need most when working with patients onsite or remotely, but they do not understand IT. Collaborate with them on which tools are most appropriate for their day-to-day circumstances, and develop safeguard policies to protect patient data.

Read the article.