Mobile Medical Device Theft Can Lead To Damaged Reputation; Alpha Thunder Tags Provide Protection Part 2

AIn this series I am discussing the dangers of data breaches to the reputation of a business, specifically medical care providers and how using Alpha Thunder Tags can help protect against medical tablet theft or i-pad theft. In 2014 and 2015 we saw a number of large retailers that were hacked and customer data exposed to potential criminal activity. It seemed that not a day went by when there wasn’t another story in the news about these cyber attacks. Hospitals experienced similar data breaches in addition to reports of stolen medical laptops and computers. Consumers were concerned that their personal information would be used for identity theft purposes and their credit history would be ruined. Does all of this exposure damage a company’s reputation?  You bet it does.  In an Aug 23, 2016 article in www.computerworld.com titled, “19% of shoppers would abandon a retailer that’s been hacked”, by Matt Hamben, the author writes, “The 2016 KPMG Consumer Loss Barometer report surveyed 448 consumers in the U.S. and found that 19% would abandon a retailer entirely over a hack. Another 33% said that fears their personal information would be exposed would keep them from a breached retailer for more than three months.”

 

You might be thinking I am comparing apples to oranges. How does a retail store data breach compare to a hospital or medical data breach?  Consumer concerns with a retail store being hacked tend to revolve around the chance that credit card information could be stolen and used by criminals to open new accounts. When patient information is exposed, more is at stake than just credit card data. Medical history, prescriptions, addresses, billing information are all susceptable to fraudulent use. Both situations result in lowered consumer confidence. As clinics, hospitals and doctor offices are relying more on mobile technology such as tablets and i-pads, the chances of a device being stolen grows. Medical tablet theft or i-pad theft can lead to stored patient information being accessed by unauthorized users. If an Alpha Thunder Tag is attached to these devices the opportunity for theft is signifcantly reduced. A medical facility can install electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas at entrance/exits and  if someone tries to smuggle a protected device out of that door, the antenna alarm is activated. The Alpha Thunder Tag also has a built in alarm that sounds if someone gets out the door and refuses to stop for those responding to the antenna alarm. The tags are built with tamper-proof protection to prevent a thief from removing the tag then leaving the building with the device. By protecting devices, you will protect the patient information contained in the device, or even the ability for someone to gain access to other client databases.

 

 Interestingly, a data breach for a healthcare provider has a greater negative impact than a breach of a retailer. In a March 25, 2015 story on acainternational.org titled, “Most Patients Would Avoid Healthcare Providers After a Data Breach”, the article states, “More than half of recent hospital patients are willing to switch healthcare providers if their current provider undergoes a data breach, according to a TransUnion Healthcare report on results of a new survey.”  http://www.acainternational.org/healthcaremarket-most-patients-would-avoid-healthcare-providers-after-a-data-breach-35518.aspx  If a greater percentage of patients are concerned with a data breach of a healthcare provider than customers are with retail breaches, then one must consider the financial impact to the facility that loses potentially half of their patients. Hospitals and medical offices must do all they can to avoid losing such a significant portion of their clients. Protecting against medical tablet theft and i-pad theft is a step in the right direction.

 

Don’t risk losing your patient’s data or your patients due to the theft of mobile medical devices. Use Alpha Thunder Tags and retain your customer’s confidence and their information.

 

Need more information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

 

 

 

 

Mobile Medical Device Theft Can Lead To Damaged Reputation; Alpha Thunder Tags Provide Protection Part 1

 

Alpha Thunder Tags -3                                                                                                         WC blog 209 
Checkpoint Classic N10-3
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Mobile Medical Device Theft Can Lead To Damaged Reputation; Alpha Thunder Tags Provide Protection Part 1
     In my retail job and my library job, I have to occassionally take online training modules reminding me of the importance of information security.  The trainings remind me that I need to be careful when creating passwords, because when they are too easy, hackers can figure them out.  I am also reminded that I should not open emails and especially the attachments if I don’t recognize the sender.  Viruses and malware may be slipped into my computer if I am careless.  One warning I recently came across in a training and I had not considered before is that when a company suffers a security breach, they risk damage to their brand and reputation.  I realized how true that statement is.  Think about the major retailers that have had data breaches and customer credit card information has been compromised.  Consumer confidence begins to wane and stock prices drop.  Customers start to question whether it is wise to shop at those locations.  A company’s reputation is tied to a lot of different factors, but trust is near the top of that list.  The same can be said for medical care facilities.  When a cyber attack takes place or patient information is mis-handled, it makes the news and patients become fearful that their information is vulnerable.  With the increased use of medical mobile devices,concerns over i-pad theft, tablet theft and medical laptop theft have become the source of government concern.  Medical providers are expected to protect patient information and Alpha Thunder Tags can help with that.
     Alpha Thunder Tags used with electronic article surveillance antennas (EAS) like the Checkpoint Classic N10, provide extreme protection against tablet theft, i-pad theft or theft of any other mobile medical device.  The tags are attached with an adhesive backing to a mobile device and once in place, can only be removed with a detachment tool.  Anyone else attempting to pull it off will activate a tamper alarm built into the tag.  The Alpha Thunder tag is designed to operate on a specific radio frequency and when it is carried into the receiving range of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna senses the tag and sounds an alarm.  Along with the audible alarm, lights built into the antenna begin to flash when the protected i-pad or tablet is being carried out.  The commotion alerts nearby employees that a tagged device is being removed from the building.  They can then respond to the alarm and recover the item that the person had in their possession.
     Is all this security necessary for your facility?  Whether you have a small office or are in charge of a large hospital, the government is pushing for medical providers to transition to electronic health records (EHRs).  The idea is that the electronic records make it easier health care providers to keep accurate records on patients and to access information. The concern that healthcare providers must consider is the possibility of hacking or technology theft.  In the event it is believed patient information is at risk, it is the responsibility of the medical facility where the loss took place to report it to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.   According to the HHS.gov website http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/ “Following a breach of unsecured protected health information, covered entities must provide notification of the breach to affected individuals, the Secretary, and, in certain circumstances, to the media.” (emphasis on media mine).   Once information on a breach is in the media what does that mean for your reputation?  In part two of this series we will take a closer look at what it can mean for any business when negative information gets in the media.
   Patient privacy and security are of paramount importance for health care professionals. Tablet theft or i-pad theft from a facility can have severe ramifications if someone was able to hack into patient information stored on a device.  Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas can give you the protection you need to help keep your company’s reputation in tact.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

In my retail job and my library job, I have to occassionally take online training modules reminding me of the importance of information security. The trainings remind me that I need to be careful when creating passwords, because when they are too easy, hackers can figure them out. I am also reminded that I should not open emails and especially the attachments if I don’t recognize the sender. Viruses and malware may be slipped into my computer if I am careless. One warning I recently came across in a training and I had not considered before is that when a company suffers a security breach, they risk damage to their brand and reputation. I realized how true that statement is. Think about the major retailers that have had data breaches and customer credit card information has been compromised. Consumer confidence begins to wane and stock prices drop. Customers start to question whether it is wise to shop at those locations. A company’s reputation is tied to a lot of different factors, but trust is near the top of that list. The same can be said for medical care facilities. When a cyber attack takes place or patient information is mis-handled, it makes the news and patients become fearful that their information is vulnerable. With the increased use of medical mobile devices,concerns over i-pad theft, tablet theft and medical laptop theft have become the source of government concern. Medical providers are expected to protect patient information and Alpha Thunder Tags can help with that.

Alpha Thunder Tags used with electronic article surveillance antennas (EAS) like the Checkpoint Classic N10, provide extreme protection against tablet theft, i-pad theft or theft of any other mobile medical device. The tags are attached with an adhesive backing to a mobile device and once in place, can only be removed with a detachment tool. Anyone else attempting to pull it off will activate a tamper alarm built into the tag. The Alpha Thunder tag is designed to operate on a specific radio frequency and when it is carried into the receiving range of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna senses the tag and sounds an alarm. Along with the audible alarm, lights built into the antenna begin to flash when the protected i-pad or tablet is being carried out. The commotion alerts nearby employees that a tagged device is being removed from the building. They can then respond to the alarm and recover the item that the person had in their possession.

Is all this security necessary for your facility? Whether you have a small office or are in charge of a large hospital, the government is pushing for medical providers to transition to electronic health records (EHRs). The idea is that the electronic records make it easier for health care providers to keep accurate records on patients and to access information. The concern that healthcare providers must consider is the possibility of hacking or technology theft. In the event it is believed patient information is at risk, it is the responsibility of the medical facility where the loss took place to report it to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. According to the HHS.gov website http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/ “Following a breach of unsecured protected health information, covered entities must provide notification of the breach to affected individuals, the Secretary, and, in certain circumstances, to the media.” (emphasis on media mine). Once information on a breach is in the media what does that mean for your reputation? In part two of this series we will take a closer look at what it can mean for any business when negative information gets in the media.

Patient privacy and security are of paramount importance for health care professionals. Tablet theft or i-pad theft from a facility can have severe ramifications if someone was able to hack into patient information stored on a device. Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas can give you the protection you need to help keep your company’s reputation in tact.

 

Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

 

I-pad Innovations In The Medical Field Put Information At Doctor’s Fingertips; Alpha Thunder Tags Protect That Data

 

Alpha Thunder Tag-3                                                                                           WC Blog 196
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I-pad Innovations In The Medical Field Put Information At Doctor’s Fingertips; Alpha Thunder Tags Protect That Data
     New and innovative uses for i-pads and tablets are constantly being found in the medical field.  From apps for medical students that familiarize students with murmurs, stenosis (for non-medical readers, an abnormal narrowing of a body passage or opening) or gallops (an abnormal heart rhythm that pounds in the chest) called “Littman SoundBuilder” to “Eponyms”  used by doctors and healthcare providers for looking up disease information or symptoms (information found in meded.umn.edu).  These applications are helping doctors to better diagnose and treat patients with information available at the touch of a finger to a screen.  As the use of the mobile medical devices grows in hospitals and doctor’s offices, so does the chance of an i-pad theft or tablet theft.  From a dishonest employee stealing a device from a secured office to a customer picking up a tablet left unattended on a counter, opportunities abound for a device to be taken and the information contained in it to be compromised.  This is very concerning if the device holds patient data.  The possibility of medical device theft can be significantly reduced if the medical office attaches an Alpha Thunder Tag to their i-pads or tablets.
     An Alpha Thunder Tag is a theft prevention device that is attached directly to the item that is to be protected, in this case a medical i-pad.  It should be noted that the Tag can be attached to medical computer tablets and laptops just as well as an i-pad.  The tag has a tamper alarm that is activated when an attempt is made to pry it off.  It also activates an electronic article surveillance (EAS) antenna when carried into the vicinity of the antenna.  When properly set up, a hospital or medical office has antennas established at all entry/exit points.  This keeps someone from slipping a device out of a side or back door without attracting attention.   One of the fantastic features of a Thunder Tag is that is can be “sensed” by the antennas even when it is hidden in a bag or purse or under clothing.  When the antenna alarm is set off, a loud noise and electronic lights built into the antenna warns employees an i-pad theft is taking place. 
     In what ways are medical i-pads and tablets being used in the medical field that is making them a game changer in the way medical care is being delivered (and potentially increasing the likelihood of theft)?  In a 17 July 2016 post, on cnbc.com titled, “The doctor is in…your i-Pad! Cleveland Clinic’s digital push”,  by Trent Gillies, one new thing the Cleveland Clinic has been trying out is a “virtual visit” “with a doctor using a tablet, smart phone, or desktop.”  Interviewing Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Toby Cosgrove, Cosgrove points out that virtual visits allow patients to avoid lines and waiting times. He allows that the visits are not for checking on a cardiac disease, but would be suitable for looking at skin problems, or a follow up from a heart surgery or a surgery where a doctor just needs to see how an incision is healing. 
     Another use for the i-pad in medicine comes from the UTHealth Medical School.  On their website, med.uth.edu in an article, “ipads come in handy in gross anatomy”, it states that “students are using the tablets to look up anatomical drawings while examining bodies.”  Books and computers posed problems for the students, “The problem is that cadavers are preserved with a chemical called phenol, which can get on book pages and washable computer keyboards…lab officials wrapped the iPads in clear plastic bags which protect the tablets while allowing students to call up information on the touchscreen.”
     Whatever the use, mobile devices are becoming more common in the medical world and so are the opportunities for i-pad theft or tablet theft depending on which device is being employed.  Protecting against the theft of the devices is not difficult, use an Alpha Thunder Tag on each device and protect your practice and patients from medical device and identity theft.
Need information on i-pad theft?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now

New and innovative uses for i-pads and tablets are constantly being found in the medical field. From apps for medical students that familiarize students with murmurs, stenosis (for non-medical readers, an abnormal narrowing of a body passage or opening) or gallops (an abnormal heart rhythm that pounds in the chest) called “Littman SoundBuilder” to “Eponyms” used by doctors and healthcare providers for looking up disease information or symptoms (information found in meded.umn.edu). These applications are helping doctors to better diagnose and treat patients with information available at the touch of a finger to a screen. As the use of the mobile medical devices grows in hospitals and doctor’s offices, so does the chance of an i-pad theft or tablet theft. From a dishonest employee stealing a device from a secured office to a customer picking up a tablet left unattended on a counter, opportunities abound for a device to be taken and the information contained in it to be compromised. This is very concerning if the device holds patient data. The possibility of medical device theft can be significantly reduced if the medical office attaches an Alpha Thunder Tag to their i-pads or tablets.

An Alpha Thunder Tag is a theft prevention device that is attached directly to the item that is to be protected, in this case a medical i-pad. It should be noted that the Tag can be attached to medical computer tablets and laptops just as well as an i-pad. The tag has a tamper alarm that is activated when an attempt is made to pry it off. It also activates an electronic article surveillance (EAS) antenna when carried into the vicinity of the antenna. When properly set up, a hospital or medical office has antennas established at all entry/exit points. This keeps someone from slipping a device out of a side or back door without attracting attention. One of the fantastic features of a Thunder Tag is that is can be “sensed” by the antennas even when it is hidden in a bag or purse or under clothing. When the antenna alarm is set off, a loud noise and electronic lights built into the antenna warns employees an i-pad theft is taking place. 

In what ways are medical i-pads and tablets being used in the medical field that is making them a game changer in the way medical care is being delivered (and potentially increasing the likelihood of theft)? In a 17 July 2016 post, on cnbc.com titled, “The doctor is in…your i-Pad! Cleveland Clinic’s digital push”,  by Trent Gillies, one new thing the Cleveland Clinic has been trying out is a “virtual visit” “with a doctor using a tablet, smart phone, or desktop.” Interviewing Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Toby Cosgrove, Cosgrove points out that virtual visits allow patients to avoid lines and waiting times. He allows that the visits are not for checking on a cardiac disease, but would be suitable for looking at skin problems, or a follow up from a heart surgery or a surgery where a doctor just needs to see how an incision is healing. 

Another use for the i-pad in medicine comes from the UTHealth Medical School. On their website, med.uth.edu in an article, “ipads come in handy in gross anatomy”, it states that “students are using the tablets to look up anatomical drawings while examining bodies.” Books and computers posed problems for the students, “The problem is that cadavers are preserved with a chemical called phenol, which can get on book pages and washable computer keyboards…lab officials wrapped the iPads in clear plastic bags which protect the tablets while allowing students to call up information on the touchscreen.”

Whatever the use, mobile devices are becoming more common in the medical world and so are the opportunities for i-pad theft or tablet theft depending on which device is being employed. Protecting against the theft of the devices is not difficult, use an Alpha Thunder Tag on each device and protect your practice and patients from medical device and identity theft.

 

Need information on i-pad theft?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now

 

21st Century Hospital, 21st Century Risk; Tablet theft, Use And Security In Modern Medicine

 

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Key words Tablet theft 4 Classic N10 3
Alpha Thunder Tag
21st Century Hospital, 21st Century Risk; Tablet theft, Use And Security In Modern Medicine
With the volume of medical care needed in today’s hospitals and the limited staff of nurses and doctors available to provide it there is precious little time to waste. Patients need treatment and medical professionals need access to that patient’s information, records and history fast. Modern technology has made this a reality with powerful WIFI and the introduction of iPad and tablets to replace the old handwritten patient charts and massive physical files. Modern technology though is a double edged sword. Data, iPad and, tablet theft have become issues that plague hospital administration, medical staff and security alike. 
What can be done?  In my life as a retail LP professional the solution to merchandise theft is merchandise protection devices. Items like Checkpoint Classic N10 paired with an Alpha Thunder Tag are used as part of an overall strategy to prevent losses. I’ll wager that it isn’t often that you hear of areas where retail and healthcare overlap but this is one.
I worked security in a large hospital for several years dealing with a host of issues, things I never would have imagined. Violent patients and disruptive visitors were a primary concern for our public safety department. The physical security and safety of a facility are vital to its operation but aren’t its only concerns. Sadly, theft was a fairly common occurrence. Visitors, patients and, staff stealing from the facility are realities. I learned people are opportunists and an environment with valuable goods and information paired with a supply of distracted victims unable to protect themselves is too tempting to pass up. 
Tablet technology has improved the speed and accuracy of patient care with the added benefit of making HIPAA compliance easier. Security often deals with a “curious” visitors caught snooping at patient’s charts. Patient data is now stored securely, safe from prying eyes and protected from data thieves who would remotely hack these devices. 
Physical tablet theft remains a major concern. On the surface it seems unlikely that a device which is carried by staff would be susceptible to being stolen but, it happens. Watching your iPad is not a priority when the alert is raised and a patient is coding. It is in those moments that the opportunists strike. A few seconds of shifted focus and that tablet ends up in a purse or backpack. Not only does that represent a financial loss to the facility but also a massive HIPAA issue as well. Beyond the hospitals exposure is the loss of the patient’s personal information. 
Given the nature of the hospital setting it isn’t practical to anchor every device to a person or secure it to an apparatus. Here the medical field can take a lesson from retail and look for a more elegant and portable solution. Companies like Alpha have developed small security tags, like the Alpha Thunder tag, that attach to a tablet or iPad and do not interfere with its portability or use. These sensors work with EAS devices like Classic N10 to provide both a deterrent for would be thieves as well as a means to notify staff and security if someone tries to exit with a secured device. 
Tablet theft will remain an issue so long as staff use them and thieves see hospitals and the technology in them as a viable revenue source. The benefits to patient care and service outweigh the risks so the task of protecting these devices falls to security professionals. With vigilance and the implementation of sound security strategies, like an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Systems Classic N10 we can allow staff to focus on patient care and give security a chance to prevent these losses. In the end everyone can win, well except the bad guys of course.  
 
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags or Checkpoint Systems Classic N10?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now  

With the volume of medical care needed in today’s hospitals and the limited staff of nurses and doctors available to provide it there is precious little time to waste. Patients need treatment and medical professionals need access to that patient’s information, records and history fast. Modern technology has made this a reality with powerful WIFI and the introduction of iPad and tablets to replace the old handwritten patient charts and massive physical files. Modern technology though is a double edged sword. Data, iPad and, tablet theft have become issues that plague hospital administration, medical staff and security alike. 

 

What can be done?  In my life as a retail LP professional the solution to merchandise theft is merchandise protection devices. Items like Checkpoint Classic N10 paired with an Alpha Thunder Tag are used as part of an overall strategy to prevent losses. I’ll wager that it isn’t often that you hear of areas where retail and healthcare overlap but this is one.

 

I worked security in a large hospital for several years dealing with a host of issues, things I never would have imagined. Violent patients and disruptive visitors were a primary concern for our public safety department. The physical security and safety of a facility are vital to its operation but aren’t its only concerns. Sadly, theft was a fairly common occurrence. Visitors, patients and, staff stealing from the facility are realities. I learned people are opportunists and an environment with valuable goods and information paired with a supply of distracted victims unable to protect themselves is too tempting to pass up. 

 

Tablet technology has improved the speed and accuracy of patient care with the added benefit of making HIPAA compliance easier. Security often deals with a “curious” visitors caught snooping at patient’s charts. Patient data is now stored securely, safe from prying eyes and protected from data thieves who would remotely hack these devices. 

 

Physical tablet theft remains a major concern. On the surface it seems unlikely that a device which is carried by staff would be susceptible to being stolen but, it happens. Watching your iPad is not a priority when the alert is raised and a patient is coding. It is in those moments that the opportunists strike. A few seconds of shifted focus and that tablet ends up in a purse or backpack. Not only does that represent a financial loss to the facility but also a massive HIPAA issue as well. Beyond the hospitals exposure is the loss of the patient’s personal information. 

 

Given the nature of the hospital setting it isn’t practical to anchor every device to a person or secure it to an apparatus. Here the medical field can take a lesson from retail and look for a more elegant and portable solution. Companies like Alpha have developed small security tags, like the Alpha Thunder tag, that attach to a tablet or iPad and do not interfere with its portability or use. These sensors work with EAS devices like Classic N10 to provide both a deterrent for would be thieves as well as a means to notify staff and security if someone tries to exit with a secured device. 
T

 

ablet theft will remain an issue so long as staff use them and thieves see hospitals and the technology in them as a viable revenue source. The benefits to patient care and service outweigh the risks so the task of protecting these devices falls to security professionals. With vigilance and the implementation of sound security strategies, like an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Systems Classic N10 we can allow staff to focus on patient care and give security a chance to prevent these losses. In the end everyone can win, well except the bad guys of course.   

 

Need information on Checkpoint Systems Classic N10?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now  

 

 

Where Has My Mobile Medical Device Gone? Don’t Know? You Should Have Used An Alpha Thunder Tag

Remember the cute children’s song, “Where, O Where Has My Little Dog Gone?”  What a fun little ditty about a lost dog and a search to find him.  But what if we change the words just a bit and make it, “Where, O Where Has My Mobile Device Gone?” That’s not quite so cute (and it doesn’t really rhyme so well either). It is especially not so funny if it involves a medical i-pad theft or medical tablet theft. The little dog in the song may very well find his way home, but will the mobile device make it back to where it belongs? Probably not. Medical providers have to be on guard to ensure that if they are using mobile devices in their practices they are keeping both the information on the device and the device itself secure. What is the best way to do this? Encryption of a device is imperative to protect patient/client data. Using an Alpha Thunder Tag is critical to prevent an i-pad theft or tablet theft.

 

Mobile devices can be protected by attaching an Alpha Thunder Tag to them and installing Checkpoint Classic N10 Antennas at building exits. The tag is built so that when it is within a certain distance from an antenna, it will cause the alarm in the antennas to activate. Alarms consist of flashing LED lights and a very loud alert sound. These alerts ensure that staff and employees will hear when someone is trying to carry a device out of the building. Alerts also provide staff an opportunity to get to the door where the alarm is sounding and retrieve the item being stolen. The Thunder Tag is also designed to be tamper proof, so if someone should try to remove the tag in order to steal a device, the tag has a built in alarm that is set off and warn staff that an attempted theft is taking place.

 

If you have a smaller office area and are concerned about the space a Checkpoint Classic N10 Antenna would take up, you can rest assured that the space requirements are minimal. This antenna was designed with small spaces in mind, so the footprint it requires is very small, and yet it performs as well as larger electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Should a person, attempt an i-pad theft or tablet theft, the antenna will detect the Alpha Thunder Tag.

 

So the question becomes does it really matter if a mobile medical device is stolen if it is encrypted? It does matter. While encryption does make it more difficult for a thief to get information from a device such as a laptop or tablet, it is not impossible. In an article in techopedia.com  , https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25054/health-care-data-encryption titled, “Health Care Data Encryption” the author discusses what data encryption is and why health care providers should use it. The article states, “Consideration of EHR( electronic health reporting, my clarification in parentheses) data encryption is wise for health care providers, administrators, IT personnel and health facilities. Although encryption is not foolproof, it’s better than plain text records (emphasis mine)”. Mobile medical devices could be stolen and the information stored on them compromised. Not only does this put patient information at risk, it could result in significant fines and penalties for the practice or care unit.

 

Can someone gain access to medical devices and steal them? Absolutely.  Handheld devices like anything else can get in the way when a patient is being treated or if a care provider becomes distracted. It isn’t difficult to imagine a scenario where someone may put down a device to take a phone call or consult with a partner or patient and then forget to pick the tablet or i-pad up. How about just laying the device on a counter where patients check in and out? Once the device is out of a person’s immediate control, it is subject to being picked up or simply lost. Once a device cannot be accounted for, it should be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services. It should not be assumed that a Mobile Medical Device will find its’ way home again.

 

Medical tablet theft and/or i-pad theft must be treated as very real possibilities. Using an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas along with data encryption on your devices can help to ensure your practice does not experience a damaging loss.

 

Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.