The definition of “availability” under HIPAA relates to the secure storage and transmission of data. It’s the process of making data accessible to authorized users while maintaining the security of patient information.
The HIPAA Security Rule defines availability as the assurance that electronic protected health information (ePHI) is accessible and usable upon demand by authorized persons. To uphold availability, healthcare organizations are required to adopt administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.
A study published in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management notes, “One new challenge to information integrity in a more electronic environment will be ensuring the availability of health information. As healthcare organisations rely more on technology for inter-organisational communication, it will be critically important to always ensure electronic and manual back up mechanisms in case of information system or general power failures.”
These measures take the form of regular data backups to facilitate recovery in case of data loss due to breaches or human error and encryption techniques to protect data during transmission. These measures reflect a commitment under HIPAA to ensure that healthcare providers deliver timely care without interruption as delays in accessing PHI can diminish patient care standards.
HIPAA compliant email systems are designed for confidentiality while improving its availability. For instance, the services typically use encryption protocols like TLS 1.2 or 1.3, which secures emails during transmission, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring ePHI remains accessible to authorized persons.
Platforms like Paubox also incorporate features like audit trails and access controls that promote accountability. This maintains the availability of ePHI since it allows healthcare providers to retrieve and share ePHI without any delays. The use of email therefore serves as a strategic approach to balancing security and maintaining a necessary standard under the Security Rule.
Accountability and accessibility are foundational steps towards the protection and proper management of ePHI. Accountability is the responsibility of healthcare organizations to secure ePHI. Accessibility on the other hand provides for the right of individuals to access their health information promptly.
HIPAA’s outlined safeguards include:
Delays can have serious consequences for both patients and healthcare providers. For patients, delayed access to their health information can lead to misunderstandings about their health conditions or treatment options.