ID Experts, a Portland-based provider of data breach solutions, has published a new report entitled “Top 11 Trends for 2012 in Healthcare Data,” with many of which relating to mobile access to healthcare information and the security risks involved.
Before looking ahead to 2012, ID Experts offered their summary of the last 12 months by saying “2011 was the year when most physicians had mobile devices, when healthcare became one of the most-breached industries, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) cracked the whip with investigations and multi-million-dollar fines for organizations that didn’t meet their patient privacy obligations.”
As mobile healthcare continues to gain momentum, security surrounding use of protected health information (PHI) is one of the most talked about issues. In fact, data breaches were at the top of the list for predictions as we enter 2012, with supporting research from the Ponemon Institute finding that while 81 percent of healthcare providers use mobile devices to collect, store and/or transmit personal health information, only 49 percent say they’re not taking steps to secure those devices.
Coming in second on ID Experts list of predictions is the increased likelihood of class-action litigation surrounding healthcare organizations not taking adequate steps to secure and protect PHI. “Regardless of the outcomes, these lawsuits are a significant risk and tremendous expense for companies affected by them,” the research firm said in its report. It seems that while healthcare organizations — and especially physicians — are pushing hard for the use of mobile devices, most are completely overlooking fundamental security issues, despite knowing the many risks involved.
ID Experts suggests the third most important risk as we enter 2012 is the use of social media in healthcare, followed by the use of cloud-computing due to the same security and encryption concerns. The bottom line to all of ID Experts predictions is the fact that the transition to mobile, while providing numerous benefits across the board, also present numerous challenges that must be addressed to keep up with the momentum of the industry.
“The use of tablets, smartphones and tablet applications in healthcare is growing exponentially,” the report states, citing consultant Christina Thielst. “Nearly one-third of healthcare providers use mobile devices to access Electronic Medical Records or Electronic Health Records (EMR/EHR) systems, according to a CompTIA study. Providers will need to balance usability, preferences, security and budgetary concerns, as well as adopt written terms of use with employees and contractors using personal devices at work.”
For all 11 predictions, visit this ID Experts press release.
