HHS says photocopiers should be part of data security review

As part of the announcement that Affinity will pay a more than $1.2 settlement for a breach of security, The Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights says that healthcare organizations need to consider photocopy machines when examining their data security.

By Healthcare Facilities Today


As part of the announcement that Affinity will pay a more than $1.2  settlement for a breach of security, The Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights says that healthcare organizations need to consider photocopy machines when examining their data security.

According to a Modern Healthcare article, the announcement suggested that all kinds of digital devices, including photocopy machines, need to be reviewed.

Affinity, a managed-care plan serving the New York metropolitan area, will pay the settlement for a breach of personally identifiable health records under the privacy and security protections of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Affinity reported the breach in April 2010 after learning from CBS News that patient-identifiable health information had been left on one of its copying machines, according to OCR documents. Affinity had sold the machine to a reseller in 2009. The OCR said it thinks Affinity actually sold about seven of its old machines containing member data, compromising confidentiality for more than 300,000 records.

Read the article.

 



August 20, 2013


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

How Backup Power Needs Vary Across Healthcare Settings

Manufacturers discuss how evolving codes, technologies and care settings shape healthcare backup power strategies.


Flexible Design Strategies Help OhioHealth Maximize Clinical Space

Doing more with less was key to the renovated facility’s design.


New Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases Opens

The new space not only offers more exam rooms but also features 15 private infusion bays to allow privacy for all patients and their caregivers during treatment.


Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Daytona Beach Opens

Hospital amenities include all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite and more.


What Healthcare Facilities Can Learn from a $49 Million Window Failure

A major window system failure at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital sparked a costly replacement project – and a $49.4 million arbitration win.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.