Tech & Innovation in Healthcare
Press Pause on Your Playlists Until Your Speaker is Secured
Question: We have a smart speaker behind the front desk in our practice, so we can listen to music during work hours. Could this be a security risk? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: As helpful as smart speakers are to everyday life, they do pose a security risk if not properly implemented. Internet of Things (IoT) devices are where major security breaches often originate. Whether you’re using smart speakers behind the front desk or in patient rooms, they need to be set up in a way that prioritizes the protection of the patients’ and the speakers’ data. Your staff may just use the speaker to listen to music, but other practices could use smart speakers to dictate notes or place medical orders. Both options pose a greater risk to a HIPAA breach, as the speaker could store protected health information on a third-party’s servers. Where to start? Contact your practice’s IT team, so they can properly and securely connect the speaker to your network. The IT department will be prepared to train clinical staff on security best practices, address any increased bandwidth needs, and ensure the accuracy of the voice-activated tools (or turn them off entirely).
Tech & Innovation in Healthcare
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Press Pause on Your Playlists Until Your Speaker is Secured
Question: We have a smart speaker behind the front desk in our practice, so we can [...] - Reader Questions:
Stay Vigilant Against Denial-of-Service Attacks
Question: I keep hearing about denial-of-service attacks in the news, but I have a tough time [...] - Reader Questions:
Can Voice-Recognition Software Save on Transcription Time?
Question: A physician in our practice is considering using voice-recognition software to transcribe their documentation notes. [...] - Reader Questions:
Prepare to Pay if You Commit HIPAA Civil Violations
Question: What are the financial penalties covered entities (CE) could face for HIPAA violations? Colorado Subscriber [...]
