Using Encryption for Healthcare Records
Around 1.4 million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year, and hospital records are one of criminals’ biggest targets. Thieves know the information contained in your hospital records is enough to allow them to take out a loan in your name – as a start. Fortunately, hospitals realize it too and use encryption for their healthcare records to protect sensitive digital records from identity thieves.
Once an identity is stolen, setting the record straight is not an easy task. The effort can consume hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. Nearly 33% of people will have their identity stolen at some time. Hospitals know among that crowd in the ER waiting room, it is not a matter of “if” but of “when” many of them will have their identities stolen.
What Does Encryption Do?
Encryption takes all your information and writes it in code. Only users who have the encryption key can decipher the code. To everyone else, the data is a meaningless jumble of nonsense. When data is stored in a computer after being encrypted, even if a thief can hack into a system and steal a file, the information would be useless.
Encryption Protects You!
Anyone who has ever had anything stolen from them understands how rotten it feels. The object’s value rarely compares to the ugly violation thrust upon you. Imagine if it wasn’t just a thing that was stolen, however. Imagine you had your entire life stolen from you. Could there ever be a bottom to that pit? Encryption ensures that type of theft will never happen, and all the information that combines to create your life will remain safe and secure.
You can trust that encryption will keep your medical history, treatment plans, and other sensitive information confidential. This confidentiality is crucial for maintaining trust between you and healthcare providers. It reduces the risk of unauthorized access to medical records, helping you maintain control over who can view your personal health data.
Encryption Helps The Hospital!
Remember when the hospital asks you to give them information, that information becomes their responsibility. They are liable for any theft or misuse of the information. Hospitals aim to avoid any responsibility for even a portion of the billions lost annually due to identity theft. The average cost of a data breach in 2023 for the healthcare industry was $10.93 million.
By encrypting medical records and sensitive patient information, hospitals ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot access or misuse the data. This protects patient privacy and prevents data breaches. In addition, patients trust hospitals to keep their medical information confidential and secure. Encryption helps hospitals maintain this trust by demonstrating a commitment to protecting patient privacy and security.
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