The Importance of Data and the Healthcare Industry:
In the world of the internet, every company is out to steal your data. Today, data is very important because of how valuable it is. It can be pretty difficult to find a reliable service provider. People have to share their information with websites for plenty of reasons. Even making an account on websites like Facebook means sharing your basic information with them. That simple information like your date of birth and phone number can end up in the database of marketing agencies. However, the most sensitive data is shared with healthcare providers.
Anyone can fall sick, which is why the healthcare industry has to handle a lot of data. This includes, but is not limited to, names and medical history of the patients, payment records, and social security numbers. No one wants their private information to end up in the wrong hands. It is the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens from threats of all kinds, including information theft. In the US, all the information of a patient is protected under law. Every service provider that handles the medical record of a patient is bound by the same law.
HIPAA and PHI:
In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law by the Congress. The purpose of the Act was to improve information flow in the medicine world and to protect the sensitive information of people. Under HIPAA, all the details of a patient are considered protected health information (PHI). Any business that handles this data must comply with HIPAA’s guidelines or they will be committing a crime. The Act protects patients and healthcare professionals. It also improves accountability in the healthcare industry.
HIPAA’s Importance in the Translation World:
The language industry handles a lot of information every day. Most of it is sensitive data that contains private details and financial statements. If any piece of information gets leaked by the translation agencies, it can harm their client. There are a few agencies that have experts from all fields in their team. So, in order to effectively translate medical documents and keep the information of their clients secure, the agencies must complete the awareness course created by HIPAA. The course familiarizes the agency with the guidelines they must follow when handling medical records. Upon the completion of the course, the companies are awarded a certificate to let their clients know that they are reliable.
HIPAA Compliance Statement:
UTS has always placed the comfort of its clients over everything else. We do not want them to worry about their information. Since we are one of the leading medical translations providers in the US, we completed the Awareness for Business Associates course by HIPAA. Under the Act, we are bound to protect the PHI of our clients. Just like there is a confidentiality agreement between doctors and patients, we are also bound to keep the information of our clients to ourselves alone.
How We Do It?
We take the following steps to ensure the safety of our clients’ data:
- UTS promises to only use the information provided to us by clients for the purpose of translation and transcription.
- Any breach in security will be reported to the clients straightaway.
- We request all of our team members to sign non-disclosure agreements before they start working on a project.
- UTS will not use the information provided to us for personal gains.
- We will not disclose the PHI to third-parties.
- We have put the right safeguards in place to ensure that the confidential data of our clients stay that way.
- In case of an accidental breach in security, we will initiate the procedure to contain the situation.
Safeguards:
We have put all the safeguards in place, as required under HIPAA guidelines.
- Administrative Safeguards:
All of our staff members are given the proper training to keep the data handed to them safe and secure at all times. The administrative safeguards ensure that the protected information only goes to the right person.
- Physical Safeguards:
The offices of UTS have very tight security. The multi-layered security system means that no unauthorized person can enter the premises. Preventive measures have been put in place to protect the buildings against flood and fire.
- Technical Safeguards:
Most of the transactions in today’s world happen through the internet, which is also where all the data is stored. This is why extra care must be taken to keep the internet and all forms of technology safe from any outside attacks. HIPAA has outlined various technical safeguards that we have put in place. We use SSL technology to make sure any information received through the internet stays safe. In order to avoid losing any data, we conduct daily backups. This way, we can not only keep our information secure but also make sure that our clients get their projects delivered to them on time.
