Healthcare clinics, including small practices and Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), typically hire cybersecurity consultants or companies under various scenarios related to data protection, compliance, and operational needs. Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data and the regulatory environment, the following situations prompt clinics to bring in cybersecurity experts
PIPEDA, or the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, is a law in Canada that governs how organizations handle personal information in the course of their business. For healthcare clinics, adhering to PIPEDA is crucial because patient data is extremely sensitive, and protecting this information builds trust and ensures that clinics meet legal and ethical obligations.
A cautionary tale from a Toronto dentist that tells us why cybsersecurity for dental clinics is critical. In fact this is applicable for all healthcare organizations in Canada today. The clinic was hit with a ransomware demand of $150,000, but was saved as they had cybersecurity precautions in place. Goes to say that having good security hygiene, protocols & training in place can eliminate the ‘root canal’ pain for your business.
Regardless of the industry vertical your organization operates in; there is no getting away from compliance with the regulatory framework under which it operates. From the way in which personnel are onboarded (were there any kind of discriminatory actions during the selection process?) to the work conditions which must be adhered to ― health and safety norms set by OSHA and others ― to pay parity; there are numerous laws, regulations, rules, and professional standards which every organization, even those in healthcare, must abide by. Every organization, which benefits from government programs, needs to assure their integrity to stay out of OIG crosshairs.
