Case Scenario Assignment
Read the following case scenario and address the questions.
Catholic Healthcare hired Ron to review the security policies and procedures related to employee selection and termination. Ron has been instructed to meet with the HIM director and determine where the HIM department may have additional requirements for its remote coding staff.
Questions:
1. For which of the administrative safeguards should Ron expect to see policies or procedures relating to the HIM department?
2. Which of the physical safeguards apply to the remote coders?
3. Which of the technical safeguards may apply to the remote coders?
4. What other risks should the HIM director address?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The case scenario presents a situation where Ron is hired to review the security policies and procedures of Catholic Healthcare related to employee selection and termination. Ron is also required to meet with the HIM director to determine additional requirements for the remote coding staff. The questions below address the various administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that may apply to remote coders and other risks that the HIM director should address.
1. For which of the administrative safeguards should Ron expect to see policies or procedures relating to the HIM department?
Ron should expect to see policies or procedures related to access control, workforce security, and security awareness and training. The HIM department may have additional requirements for remote coding staff, such as background checks, access controls, and workforce security. These policies and procedures ensure that the remote coding staff has the necessary access privileges and training to perform their job functions securely.
2. Which of the physical safeguards apply to the remote coders?
Physical safeguards that apply to remote coders include facility access controls, workstation use, and workstation security. Remote coders should have secure workstations that are located in secure facilities with restricted access. Physical security measures should be in place to ensure that only authorized personnel can access remote coding workstations.
3. Which of the technical safeguards may apply to the remote coders?
Technical safeguards that may apply to remote coders include access controls, audit controls, and integrity controls. Access controls ensure that only authorized personnel can access remote coding systems and applications. Audit controls provide a record of all remote coding activities and ensure that any unauthorized access attempts are detected and prevented. Integrity controls ensure that the data being processed and transmitted by remote coders are accurate and secure.
4. What other risks should the HIM director address?
Apart from the administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, the HIM director should address risks related to data privacy and confidentiality. Remote coding staff may have access to sensitive patient data, and it is essential to have protocols in place to ensure that this data is only accessed and used for legitimate business reasons. The HIM director should also ensure that remote coders are aware of their responsibilities regarding data privacy and confidentiality and are trained to handle patient data securely. Additionally, the HIM director should address risks related to network security, data backup, and disaster recovery to ensure business continuity in case of any disruptions.