What are the Key Challenges encountered by the Healthcare Sector in 2022 and how to address them?

Posted by Parija Rangnekar On Filed under Healthcare No Comments
What are the Key Challenges encountered by the Healthcare Sector in 2022 and how to address them?
Healthcare App Development
The healthcare industry is ever-evolving to meet the dynamic and demanding requirements of changing times. Factors like emerging technologies, rising patient expectations, the latest healthcare trends, and the discovery of new avenues of clinical treatment are the major driving forces behind the need for transformation. However, this transformative journey brings in loads of bottlenecks that healthcare providers struggle to deal with.
I have penned down the major issues prevalent in the healthcare industry as well as effective measures to address those roadblocks. Here we go!

Key Healthcare Industry Challenges and Remedial Measures

challenges in healthcare

Demanding Patient Expectations

The healthcare service expectations of modern-era patients are sky-high and demanding indeed. The most popular demand that was fuelled up by the Covid19 pandemic is a healthcare service that combines both models – virtual and in-person doctor consultations – depending on the requirement/urgency of patients’ medical conditions. Today, most medical facilities offer the option of virtual consultation in real-time via video calling; but effectively integrating in-person and virtual services is quite challenging. The reason is healthcare professionals find it difficult to decide as to which patients need an in-person visit and which patients can be managed by virtual consultations.
Patients, these days, have got accustomed to the convenience of an elevated experience offered by other industries, particularly the retail sector. Needless to say, they crave a similar customer experience from their healthcare provider as well. Telehealth and telemedicine experiences are the most sought-after healthcare models. Patients prefer a streamlined experience including services like ePrescriptions, online prescription refilling, downloading lab results/immunization records, online appointment booking/rescheduling/cancellation, timely reminders via push notifications, online bill payment with multiple available options, checking of insurance status or account status digitally, etc.
Lastly, patients expect fast and flawless services from the practitioners as well as front-desk staff.

Remedial measures

Healthcare organizations need to employ patient-friendly and effective telemedicine/telehealth mobile apps and also integrate secure and HIPAA compliant software solutions/systems to record patient data and provide access to authorized users as and when needed. For this reason, it is advisable to create a centralized portal that consolidates all patients’ information and clinical data. The patient history should be updated regularly, and the portal must be made accessible to all medical staff to avoid unnecessary delays, clinical setbacks, and fatal diagnoses/treatment errors.

Appropriate Handling of Big Data

The digital tools and software solutions that are adopted by medical practices to record and process patient information and clinical data; generate humungous volumes of handy data known as Big Data. This data can be leveraged by the medical facility in the form of data analytics to obtain amazing patient outcomes – like-saving processes, epidemic control, etc. – and reduce operational expenses. Some of the implementations of Big Data in healthcare include EHR integration, predictive analysis, strategic planning, receiving real-time alerts during emergencies, integrated and personalized communication, advanced patient care/treatment, reducing fraudulent practices, and tightening data security. Big Data can bring a lot to the table for medical companies and provide them with a competitive edge.
But, most healthcare service providers are not able to fully utilize this brilliant strategy. It becomes challenging to capture and use Big Data due to the absence of productive methods for data governance. The data needs to be precise, clean, and formatted properly for effective usage. The hospital body needs to create a conducive infrastructure that allows effective data integration and collaboration amongst data providers. And, all these processes are not easy to implement.

Remedial Measures

In order to reap the benefits of data-oriented decision making and analysis, healthcare Services need to implement an online reporting software. The usage of Artificial Intelligence algorithms and Machine Learning methodologies including neural networks is also a highly workable option for the healthcare industry to handle huge volumes of data and gain fruitful outcomes out of it. For this, you need appropriate hardware and software support and technical professionals to drive the processes. This support system can be either built in-house or outsourced from a reliable and experienced vendor offering healthcare app development services.

Cybersecurity Threats posed by Smart Healthcare Systems

Today, the healthcare ecosystem of hospital spaces has become all the more complex and prone to cybercrimes due to the adoption of a technology-infused digital approach powered by automation, data analytics, and interoperability. Dealing with cybersecurity woes has become one of the key challenges in healthcare.
Check out these alarming data breach statistics as reported by the online portal techjury.net:
  • Healthcare providers invest only 6% of their budget in implementing cybersecurity practices.
  • 24% of the practitioners were not able to identify the commonest signs of malware attacks.
  • 39% of healthcare firms came to know about the data breach several months after its occurrence.
  • 60-80% of healthcare data breaches are not reported at all.
  • The penalty for data breaches in healthcare is approximately $ 408 for each record which is much higher compared to other industries.
Modern hospitals integrate various third-party systems and different types of connected devices into their environment like IoT-powered wristbands for remote tracking, software tools for crash cart tracking, vital-sign monitors, portable X-ray machines, ventilators, etc. These systems and devices interact with the entire network of the medical facility to generate valuable medical data and patient information to be stored in the EHRs. This data helps in patients’ life sustenance, clinical decision making, data analysis, research, and so on.
But every integrated device makes the hospital infrastructure vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches. Such incidents pose a big threat to patients’ health/safety and the security of sensitive healthcare data and medical systems. Take a look at the type of cyberattacks existing in the healthcare sector and their grave consequences.

Different kinds of Cybers Attacks

  • Malware: Attackers block a network, service, or system.
  • DoS (Denial of Service) DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks: The healthcare devices or systems become unavailable for use.
  • Ransomware: Hackers encrypt data and demand a hefty amount as a ransom for reviving the data.
  • Phishing Attacks: Phishing links or websites are used for misleading the targeted user; if the user clicks on malicious attachments/links, confidential information can be accessed.
  • Cloud Storage Breach: Attackers can access insecure APIs and improperly encrypted PHI and PII data stored on the cloud; they can even misconfigure cloud storage altogether.

The Consequence of Cyber Attacks

Cyber-attacks can lock patient care as well as back-office systems and stop their functioning for a certain period. Whenever any life-sustaining equipment is tampered with, the lives of patients are endangered and can even lead to the death of critical patients. Moreover, hackers can invade information networks and access medical research & clinical trial data, patients’ health information, billing details, etc. This data is then sold on the darknet for carrying out fraudulent practices. Medical facilities can be heavily penalized or fined for security breaches and healthcare information leaks, specifically if they have violated the standard regulatory compliances mandated for the healthcare sector. Such incidents tarnish the reputation of healthcare brands, and they start losing customers.

Remedial Measures

Healthcare Providers must secure their infrastructure, databases, networks, and endpoints and protect the private and financial data of patients. So, make sure that every third-party technology integrated into your system is secured and is HITRUST certified, adhere to all regulatory compliances including HIPAA, encrypt data, restrict access to systems without proper authorization and authentication, follow a multi-factor authentication procedure, and implement a strong password policy. Also, regularly update systems to patch security threats, train hospital staff about cybersecurity risks, strictly monitor digitally connected devices to identify intrusions, and be equipped to promptly resolve security breaches. Practices like duplicate encryption, network fragmentation, firewall, risk scans login testing, etc. are also highly effective in maintaining data security.

Issues in Processing Invoices, Payments, and Insurance Claims

The healthcare industry is struggling to streamline payment processing; several medical providers still follow time-consuming and error-prone manual processing cycles. This leads to late payments, missed payments, added operational expenses, and claim denials by insurance firms due to minor errors. Patients also miss the chance to use digital payment alternatives such as virtual cards that enables them to avail of cashback discounts.

Remedial Measures

Healthcare providers need to automate and streamline the entire invoice and claims processing system. Automated capturing of data and coding will speed up the process, minimize errors, lessen claim rejections, and reduce the workload of medical staff.
A feature-rich billing system built in collaboration with the billing firms will ease things for patients. A patient-centric billing system usually comes with handy functions like an online patients’ portal, a flexible dashboard for managing invoices, separate queue screens for IP and OP billing, eStatements, multiple payment alternatives, latest payment processes like text-to-pay, etc. An efficient mobile solution will also send auto payment reminders to patients through push notifications.

EndNote:

Automation and technological innovations in healthcare are a double-edged sword. While technology and digitalization are a boon to the healthcare sector and can solve endless roadblocks, it is challenging to integrate such solutions, and myriad bottlenecks crop up if this software is not properly implemented.
Does that mean that healthcare providers should stay away from digital transformation and lag behind competitors? The answer is a big “no.” Medical service providers must embrace a technological approach, but follow the best practices, regulatory compliances, and security measures to eliminate challenges.

Does your Mobile App require HIPAA Compliance?

Posted by Parija Rangnekar On Filed under Healthcare No Comments
Does your Mobile App require HIPAA Compliance?
HIPAA compliant apps
Healthcare data has always been vulnerable to threats like data leaks, security breaches, unauthorized access, etc. The emergence of healthcare mobile apps and the current trend of digital healthcare record maintenance and data transfer; have worsened this possibility. Despite offering advantages like convenience, speed, and accuracy; digital healthcare data is prone to cyber-attacks.
Hence, the governing authorities across the globe have established rigorous standards for all medical entities that collect, process, and store patient data. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, is one such compliance regulation mandated for US-based healthcare bodies that utilize healthcare software solutions.
Developing a HIPAA compliant app involves additional costs as extra security layers need to be integrated within the app. And, data breaches due to HIPAA violations may result in hefty fines or even criminal charges depending upon the severity of the breach. Hence, medical bodies and app development services must be well versed with the specific guidelines that determine whether a particular healthcare mobile app or software needs to comply with HIPAA regulations. This post has consolidated all relevant HIPAA-related information to guide you through HIPAA standards and also mentions which entities are covered under the HIPAA rule. Read along to know whether your healthcare mobile app falls under the category of applications that require HIPAA compliance.

HIPAA: Inception and Governance

The HIPAA act was rolled out on 21st August 1996 and had been updated several times since then. The most noteworthy update was the one declared on 14th April 2003.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulates the HIPAA rule and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces this rule. OCRs provides routine guidance on new issues cropping up in the healthcare industry and investigates the common instances of HIPAA violations.

Why is HIPAA Compliance Important?

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a set of interlocking regulatory standards that establish how businesses should use, store, and disclose patients’ data while maintaining the privacy and security of that data.
The prime objective of HIPAA is to prevent the unauthorized and unlawful exposure of sensitive patient information. As such, HIPAA confers patients certain rights regarding their healthcare data. It also offers federal protection to this data by defining rules concerning administrative setups of medical facilities and the technical safeguards to be used by them. The reason is that if confidential patient data is leaked, there would be absolute chaos resulting in the failure of the entire healthcare system. Therefore, all medical organizations handling PHI (protected health information) must adhere to HIPAA guidelines for protecting the privacy & integrity of patient data and ensuring data security.

How does HIPAA Function and what are its Offerings?

HIPAA defines and controls how a patient’s PHI is collected, stored, and managed by doctors, healthcare facilities, and other stakeholders of the healthcare sector. This PHI can be physical records or electronic records maintained by a healthcare application. HIPAA regulates physical and electronic standards for protecting the privacy of an individual’s data.
Coming to offerings, HIPAA focuses on the confidentiality and privacy of healthcare data. The most notable offerings are providing insurance portability to citizens, setting standards for handling medical data, maintaining the efficiency of healthcare data-related operations, and ensuring data security.

HIPAA Regulations: Categories

Healthcare app development services

HIPAA Privacy Rule

The HIPAA privacy rule determines which data is considered PHI and which entities will ensure whether the PHI is disclosed lawfully or not.

HIPAA Security Rule

The HIPAA security rule deals with electronic information and establishes guidelines to be followed for maintaining the privacy and security of the PHI. This rule categorizes the data protection methodologies into three different segments – physical, administrative, and technical. Physical security standards cater to actual devices, administrative standards deal with training & access control, while the technical category revolves around data.

HIPAA Omnibus Rule

The HIPAA Omnibus rule was added to apply HIPAA compliance for business associates of covered entities. The rule also mandates the rules pertaining to BAAs. BAAs or Business Associate Agreements are contractual agreements that must be signed and agreed upon before sharing or transferring any data containing PHI or ePHI. Such an agreement is executed either between any covered entity and a business associate or between two business associates.

HIPAA Breach Notification Rule

This rule defines standards to be followed by covered entities and business associates in an event of a data breach involving the ePHI or PHI. The rule states various requirements related to breach reporting. Data breach incidents must be promptly reported to HHS OCR. The breach reporting protocols are defined as per the magnitude and the type of the data breach.

Which Elements of the Healthcare Industry are covered under HIPAA Compliance?

PHI (Personal Health Information)

As defined by the US law authorities, all personal or health-related information of a patient that was created, disclosed, or used during the course of diagnoses or treatment; falls under PHI. PHI includes the data used/stored by a healthcare facility, covered entity, or a business associate of a covered entity for identifying a patient’s identity, and determining their present medical condition, payment transaction data, or provisions of medical care. PHI contains a patient’s demographic details like name, address, contact number, date of birth, geographical location, facial pictures, social security number, insurance information, financial details, and healthcare records like medical bills/e-mails, lab test/scan results, pharmaceutical prescriptions, etc.
In a nutshell, PHI is personally identifiable information that is present in a patient’s healthcare records and the treatment-related data interactions happening between doctors and healthcare professionals. The fact that a patient has received services from a covered entity and the date on which the medical service was availed is also considered PHI.

Covered Entities

According to the Department for Health & Human Services (HHS), covered entities include healthcare clearinghouses, health plans, and the healthcare service providers that electronically transmit any kind of transaction-related medical information.

Business Associates

Any establishment/individual that collects, maintains, stores, or transmits PHI on behalf of a covered entity falls under the category of business associates even if they do not directly deal with healthcare. A business associate that works along with a covered entity also needs HIPAA compliance. Determining whether your mobile app is a business associate or not; may become tricky at times. So, it is advisable for you to consult a legal expert if you have the slightest confusion.

Does your Healthcare Mobile App require HIPAA Compliance?

Now comes the million-dollar question; “Does my healthcare mobile app need to be HIPAA compliant?” Let’s explore!

Identifiable and non-identifiable data

The process of determining whether or not your mobile app needs to comply with HIPAA rules is quite tricky. This is because data like a person’s DOB or zip code may seem least likely to be misused, but such data can be utilized by resourceful hackers for causing harm to individuals because these are identifiable data. As such, app owners must be able to distinguish between identifiable data and non-identifiable data.
For instance, popular fitness applications like Fitbit, Wahoo Fitness, Runkeeper, MyFitnessPal, etc. do not need HIPAA compliance because they track & handle non-identifiable data like heart rate, calories burnt, diet consumed, blood glucose levels, distance covered, steps climbed, BMI, and weight changes. Such data, if stolen cannot be used for carrying out malicious practices. So, this type of data is categorized under consumer health information, and not PHI. Furthermore, the aforesaid apps do not share the stored data with any third-party provider like doctors, medical professionals, or insurance agencies. And, since this data is not being transmitted, app owners do not require encrypting data by adding layers like cipher suites or TLS (Transport Layer Security).
mHealth and telemedicine apps have to be HIPAA compliant as they collect and transmit identifiable patient data. These apps connect patients with doctors for consultation, diagnoses, and treatment. For instance, mHealth/telemedicine app users are asked a plethora of questions concerning their health for narrowing down the symptoms, and then this information is used for finding the most suitable doctor who can begin their treatment. Moreover, patients receive treatment through remote monitoring via video conference calls, text messages, virtual doctor visits, and discussion forums. Therefore, such apps need to store and transmit data like e-prescription, personal identification data, treatment history, appointment information, etc.

Healthcare e-mails and Push Notifications

Generally, e-mails are non-compliant as they are usually unable to encrypt the contents. However, e-mailing information that contains PHI is a HIPAA violation. Hence, if PHI-related information has to be sent through e-mails, you must choose a HIPAA-compliant e-mail service provider for such communications.
Push notifications sent to users via mobile apps may violate HIPAA regulations. This is because, the content sent may be visible publicly on the screen, even when the smartphone device is locked. So, it’s advisable to avoid including any PHI-related data in the push notification content.

API and Database Calls

If your app depends on the data from the covered entity like a practitioner’s office and isn’t HIPAA compliant, then these covered entities will not be allowed to grant access to your app to execute API or database calls. Also it will not be able to read any information contained in the database. This will limit the app’s functionality considerably.

Concluding Lines:

If your healthcare mobile app needs to be HIPAA compliant, every element of the app including external tools or sensors has to comply with HIPAA rules. HIPPA compliance adds multiple security layers to your mobile app like administrative safeguards, technical safeguards, physical safety measures, documentation safety measures, and breach notification regulations. This increases the complexity of mobile app development and chances of misses are likely.
So, it would be a great idea to seek technical assistance and partner with experienced healthcare app development services. These companies can help you build the most robust HIPAA-compliant apps that function without any operational glitches.