As nearly all of the facets of our lives have shifted online, an often overlooked category of personal data is medical records. Our medical records get stored in various databases and often contain some of our most sensitive personal information. The protection of these records is more critical than ever before as medical identity theft is a growing concern. Often these records are not securely kept, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. Learning how to safeguard your medical records is essential in order to protect yourself and your family from identity theft or financial loss. This article will help you understand healthcare identity theft protection, the process of securing patient info and safeguarding medical data.
Why Protecting Medical Records Matters
Medical identity theft is a specific subtype of general identity theft. It can lead to severe consequences, from financial loss to medical treatment fraud, or wrong information about your health record that could put your future care at risk. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), if you become a victim of medical identity theft there is a strong possibility that you will encounter unexpected bills or damages for your credit report. Unfortunately, fixing these issues could take an exorbitant amount of time.
Understanding Healthcare Identity Theft Protection
Healthcare identity theft is simple- it occurs when someone uses your medical information without consent. The data typically accessed or stolen include social security numbers, health insurance policies, and numbers, or the full health records themselves. Understanding healthcare identity theft protection will help you protect your sensitive data from this threat. Protecting medical records involves both personal vigilance and utilizing advanced tools designed to safeguard sensitive patient information.
Common Methods Used by Identity Thieves
There are several common methods used by identity thieves, which, fortunately, can be stopped with the use of tools like Online Security and through general user awareness. One of the most common vectors includes phishing emails, where scammers will mask themselves as healthcare professionals in order to get your personal information. Hackers will also try to pull off massive data breaches targeted at healthcare databases to steal patient records, like the Change Healthcare breach that impacted more than 100M people. Finally, physical medical records could fall into the wrong hands if they are not properly disposed of.
How to Secure Patient Info Effectively
Learning how to secure patient info effectively is essential learning for medical professionals. This is the first defense against medical identity theft and can be easily accomplished with some simple training. For patients, knowing these practices and asking your medical care professionals if they put them to use can help you rest easy when worrying about medical identity theft.
Monitor Your Medical Records Regularly
Review any medical bills you receive, and take the time to go through each Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement to be on the lookout for suspicious activity. If you monitor your medical records regularly, you can spot unfamiliar procedures or charges as soon as they occur. Be sure to report them immediately to the relevant parties as soon as possible.
Use Secure Online Portals
Most healthcare providers in today’s digital world will offer secure portals for you to access your medical information. Many of these secure portals will be encrypted in order to protect your data. Because of this encryption, it makes the use of secure online portals essential in fighting medical identity theft. If possible, always go with this option
Safeguard Physical Records
If you still receive paper medical documents or you print out digital ones, be sure to store them appropriately. When you take the time to safeguard physical records in a secure location, you are removing one possible vector point in medical identity theft. Try to your best ability to avoid leaving them in open areas or unsecured locations.
Share Information at Your Own Risk
Think twice before you share sensitive information like your medical records. You should only be sharing your personal health information with trusted professionals. Make sure to verify the identity or domain at which you are sharing your information with first. This can help reduce the chances of your records being
Strategies for Safeguarding Medical Data
Just as there are many strategies for protecting yourself online, there are some specific strategies for safeguarding medical data that can help you ward off hackers. Thankfully, many of them are cost-effective and well worth the investment of time and effort.
Utilize Healthcare Identity Theft Protection Services
Specialized identity theft protection services, such as those offered through Online Security, offer ways in which to monitor and get alerted about your sensitive personal data. These tools alert you to potential breaches, guide you to resolving issues, as well as offer help when needed.
Keep Personal Devices Secure
It may seem obvious, but protecting your physical device from malware and scammers should be your first step in fighting off cyber threats. Using a next-gen antivirus solution, password managers, and enabling settings like 2FA will greatly reduce the chances of infiltration on your device.
Educate Yourself on Cybersecurity Best Practices
There are tons of resources out there for you to learn about common scams and how to fight back against them. Understanding common scams and knowing how to best respond is a crucial element to safeguarding medical data. You can visit the ReasonLabs Blog to educate yourself on cybersecurity best practices.
Addressing Medical Identity Theft Quickly
If you suspect that your medical records have been compromised, take the following steps:
- Contact Your Provider: Notify them of any suspicious activities. Be sure to request a copy of your medical records so you can also review them on your own.
- File a Report or Claim: Report the incident or your concern to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It also doesn’t hurt to share what happened with your local police department as their might be an open investigation on the matter.
- Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report: Placing a fraud alert on your credit report can help prevent further consequences of misuse of your personal information.
- Correct Your Records: Once the matter is handled, work with your healthcare provider to update any and all inaccurate information.
The Role of Advanced Tools in Securing Patient Info
Modern technology can provide a great deal of support in protecting medical records. Online tools, such as those offered by ReasonLabs, are designed to enhance security and minimize the risks of healthcare identity theft. These solutions provide real-time monitoring, threat detection, and guidance on cybersecurity best practices. Safeguarding medical data is not just about securing records—it's about protecting your identity and ensuring peace of mind. By implementing effective strategies and leveraging healthcare identity theft protection tools, you can reduce the risks of medical identity theft significantly. Prioritize securing patient info today to build a safer, more secure future.
