Due to the fact that small medical practises, such as solo practitioners and small groups, must comply with the same HIPAA rules as the country’s healthcare systems, smaller medical practises must invest less in HIPAA training programmes that cover the same topics as much larger firms.
Small medical practises may have fewer patients than large health care systems and may only focus on a few specialties, but this does not excuse them from adhering to all HIPAA standards. Even small healthcare practices must get HIPAA certification. Hence, much like other Covered Organizations, small medical practises must offer the same Privacy Rule and Security Rule training.
Thus, employees who have access to PHI must be trained on the medical practice’s PHI policies and procedures “as necessary and appropriate for the employees to carry out their tasks.” Also, these people will need more instruction “when functions are impacted by a major change in rules and procedures.”
Additionally, even staff workers who do not have access to ePHI are required to complete security and awareness training. This is due to the fact that malware can disable systems regardless of how it enters the system, making it crucial that all employees obtain training on internet security to reduce hazards to ePHI.
HIPAA TRAINING FOR SMALL MEDICAL PRACTISES MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED IN OTHER SITUATIONS
HIPAA training for small medical practises is required in addition to the aforementioned requirements when a risk analysis reveals a potential risk or vulnerability that could be mitigated to a reasonable and adequate degree with further training. Even if a technical measure is put in place to reduce the danger, it might still be required to instruct people on how to utilise it legally.
Additionally, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of HHS may decide that additional training is required as part of a corrective action plan. During an investigation into a patient complaint or self-reported HIPAA violation, the OCR prefers to employ corrective action plans – as long as the infringement was not the result of “willful neglect” and attempts were made to fix the problem within 30 days. OCR audits and inspections may also lead to corrective action plans.
Although required additional training resulting from a risk assessment or corrective action plan is preferable to a data breach, it uses resources that could be better used elsewhere. The operations of a small medical practise would be disrupted by employees being required to take time away from their jobs to attend additional training.
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