Protecting Patient Information

Protecting Patient Information: A Decision-Maker's Guide to Risk, Prevention, and Damage Control provides the concrete steps needed to tighten the information security of any healthcare IT system and reduce the risk of exposing patient health information (PHI) to the public. The book offers a systematic, 3-pronged approach for addressing the IT security deficits present in healthcare organizations of all sizes. Healthcare decision-makers are shown how to conduct an in-depth analysis of their organization's information risk level. After this assessment is complete, the book offers specific measures for lowering the risk of a data breach, taking into account federal and state regulations governing the use of patient data. Finally, the book outlines the steps necessary when an organization experiences a data breach, even when it has taken all the right precautions. - Written for physicians, nurses, healthcare executives, and business associates who need to safeguard patient health information - Shows how to put in place the information security measures needed to reduce the threat of data breach - Teaches physicians that run small practices how to protect their patient's data - Demonstrates to decision-makers of large and small healthcare organizations the urgency of investing in cybersecurity

Paul Cerrato, MA, has had over 30 years of experience working in healthcare, as a clinician, researcher, author, editor, and college lecturer. The last 7 years have been spent researching and writing about healthcare technology. He has served as Editor of Information Week Healthcare, Executive Editor of Contemporary OB/GYN, and Senior Editor of RN Magazine. Cerrato is the author of Protecting Patient Information and the co-author with John Halamka of Realizing the Promise of Precision Medicine. He has been named one of the most influential bloggers in healthcare IT by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).