if so can you tell me how it was, any tips, what to study and KNOW?
I am a nursing student and if I dont pass it is an automatic dismissal from the program
I would think it is a common sense test? am I right? Do you know what the provisions are?
What are the safeguards?
鈥dministrative Safeguards - policies and procedures designed to clearly show how the entity will comply with the act
oCovered entities (entities that must comply with HIPAA requirements) must adopt a written set of privacy procedures and designate a privacy officer to be responsible for developing and implementing all required policies and procedures.
oThe policies and procedures must reference management oversight and organizational buy-in to compliance with the documented security controls.
oProcedures should clearly identify employees or classes of employees who will have access to protected health information (PHI). Access to PHI in all forms must be restricted to only those employees who have a need for it to complete their job function.
oThe procedures must address access authorization, establishment, modification, and termination.
oEntities must show that an appropriate ongoing training program regarding the handling PHI is provided to employees performing health plan administrative functions.
oCovered entities that out-source some of their business processes to a third party must ensure that their vendors also have a framework in place to comply with HIPAA requirements. Companies typically gain this assurance through clauses in the contracts stating that the vendor will meet the same data protection requirements that apply to the covered entity. Care must be taken to determine if the vendor further out-sources any data handling functions to other vendors and monitor whether appropriate contracts and controls are in place.
oA contingency plan should be in place for responding to emergencies. Covered entities are responsible for backing up their data and having disaster recovery procedures in place. The plan should document data priority and failure analysis, testing activities, and change control procedures.
oInternal audits play a key role in HIPAA compliance by reviewing operations with the goal of identifying potential security violations. Policies and procedures should specifically document the scope, frequency, and procedures of audits. Audits should be both routine and event-based.
oProcedures should document instructions for addressing and responding to security breaches that are identified either during the audit or the normal course of operations.
鈥hysical Safeguards - controlling physical access to protect against inappropriate access to protected data
oControls must govern the introduction and removal of hardware and software from the network. (When equipment is retired it must be disposed of properly to ensure that PHI is not compromised.)
oAccess to equipment containing health information should be carefully controlled and monitored.
oAccess to hardware and software must be limited to properly authorized individuals.
oRequired access controls consist of facility security plans, maintenance records, and visitor sign-in and escorts.
oPolicies are required to address proper workstation use. Workstations should be removed from high traffic areas and monitor screens should not be in direct view of the public.
oIf the covered entities utilize contractors or agents, they too must be fully trained on their physical access responsibilities.
鈥echnical Safeguards - controlling access to computer systems and enabling covered entities to protect communications containing PHI transmitted electronically over open networks from being intercepted by anyone other than the intended recipient
oInformation systems housing PHI must be protected from intrusion. When information flows over open networks, some form of encryption must be utilized. If closed systems/networks are utilized, existing access controls are considered sufficient and encryption is optional.
oEach covered entity is responsible for ensuring that the data within its systems has not been changed or erased in an unauthorized manner.
oData corroboration, including the use of check sum, double-keying, message authentication, and digital signature may be used to ensure data integrity.
oCovered entities must also authenticate entities it communicates with. Authentication consists of corroborating that an entity is who it claims to be. Examples of corroboration include: password systems, two or three-way handshakes, telephone callback, and token systems.
oCovered entities must make documentation of their HIPAA practices available to the government to determine compliance.
oIn addition to policies and procedures and access records, information technology documentation should also include a written record of all configuration settings on the components of the network because these components are complex, configurable, and always changing.
oDocumented risk analysis and risk management programs are required. Covered entities must carefully consider the risks of their operations as they implement systems to comply with the act. (The requirement of risk analysis and risk management implies that the act鈥檚 security requirements are a minimum standard and places responsibility on covered entities to take all reasonable precautions necessary to prevent PHI from being used for non-health purposes.) |
