Whether you are a hospital, part of an independent doctors’ network, or a solo healthcare practitioner, the requirements and obligations regarding the collection, maintenance, and eventual destruction of personal and confidential medical information are significant. The loss or mishandling of any of that information can result in fines, penalties, and even the loss of license. Medical shredding services for healthcare facilities help tackle these issues at the root.
Why do you need HIPAA compliant shredding service?
Despite everyone’s best efforts, 56% of healthcare organizations have experienced a data breach, with 29% stating a breach occurred in the past 12 months. All this due to lack of secure healthcare document shredding.
To prevent identity theft, and or lawsuits for improper handling of PHI, shredding medical records and media is crucial to safeguard your patients confidentiality. Let’s not forget that the reputation of your medical facility also depends on how you treat your patients.
Source: Stericycle, Data Protection Report, 2021.
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HIPAA Compliant Medical Shredding Services for Healthcare Facilities
Protecting your confidential information isn’t just a best practice; it’s the law!
Like most industries that work with private and confidential information, the healthcare sector is heavily regulated and governed. And laws designed to protect identities, medical information, financial data, and personal privacy come with strict rules – and heavy fines for violating them. We can help you stay compliant.
In addition to your industry regulations governing information privacy, here are a few of the key information security laws that also apply:
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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
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Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)
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Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
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Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) established federal standards for the protection of patients' Protected Health Information (PHI), either in physical or digital forms.
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was enacted to help strengthen the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA by extending the reach of the Security Rule to Business Associates of Covered Entities. The Act also established tougher penalties for non-compliance with HIPAA.
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
The goal of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) is to enhance consumer protections against identity theft. The best-known aspect of the Act is the establishment of free annual access to credit reports by consumers. However, the Act also requires the preservation and proper disposal of sensitive and personal data to protect against unauthorized access or misuse.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was enacted to protect investors by requiring the implementation of controls to help prevent fraudulent accounting and financial practices at publicly traded companies, which includes the secure retention and appropriate disposal of financial documentation.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) established federal standards for the protection of patients' Protected Health Information (PHI), either in physical or digital forms.
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was enacted to help strengthen the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA by extending the reach of the Security Rule to Business Associates of Covered Entities. The Act also established tougher penalties for non-compliance with HIPAA.
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)
The goal of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) is to enhance consumer protections against identity theft. The best-known aspect of the Act is the establishment of free annual access to credit reports by consumers. However, the Act also requires the preservation and proper disposal of sensitive and personal data to protect against unauthorized access or misuse.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was enacted to protect investors by requiring the implementation of controls to help prevent fraudulent accounting and financial practices at publicly traded companies, which includes the secure retention and appropriate disposal of financial documentation.
Learn to recognize the risks.
In healthcare, it’s a safe bet that every document you or your employees handle contains some form of confidential information. Whether it’s patient records or pharmacy reports, or your own financial reports and billing data, you have a lot of information to secure.
If you create, collect, or dispose of these types of documents, you and your organization could be at-risk for an information breach.
- Patient Insurance Information
- Payroll and HR records
- Supplier contracts
- Medicaid/ACA Information
- Financial Statements
- Tax Filings and Internal Audits
- Medical Invoices and Payments
- Balance Sheets
- Staff Schedules and Contact Info
- X-rays and MRI Files
- Income Statements
- Social Security Numbers
Why Choose Shred-it as Your Go-to Paper Shredding Service?
Shred-it protects organizations' information for their people, customers and brands through secure shredding. With 30 years of experience, our primary focus on document confidentiality and security helps ensure your confidential information remains confidential. We offer paper, hard drive, and specialty scheduled shredding services for all forms of secure records and important documents. As a leader in the secure data destruction industry, we’re ready for you to provide us with the sensitive documents that you need us to shred or purge.
Service Reliability
With the largest paper shredding fleet and the largest service footprint in North America, we are where you are.
Security Expertise
With the most NAID AAA certified mobile/on-site and plant-based shredder facilities, we keep your sensitive information safe.
Customer Experience
With the highest customer satisfaction among all vendors, we are 100% committed to your protection and satisfaction.
Vulnerable Businesses Risk Losing More than Just Money
73% of small business leaders and 94% of consumers surveyed are concerned about data breaches in the future.
Yet, only 60% say they are proactive when it comes to data and information protection leaving many businesses vulnerable.
1. Stericycle, Shred-it Data Protection Report, 2023.
The 2023 Data Protection Report reveals perceptions of the current regulatory landscape and barriers to compliance, as well as assesses the demand for assistance from external information security partners.