Announcing PRMS eRiskHub: Data Security Exposure Tools and Resources

In recent years, the consequences of breach of confidentiality have increased significantly given state and federal laws governing the breach of patient and consumer information. Along with the increased regulation is the incentive for wrongdoers (internal and external to your practice) to access and steal your patients’ information without permission. Protected health information is reportedly going for ten to fifty times as much as credit card information on the black market.

To help mitigate this risk, PRMS clients now have complimentary access to eRiskHub^®.  This new resource will help psychiatrists in their technical efforts to secure electronic patient data and effectively manage breach of confidentiality risk.  eRiskHub is a private, mobile-friendly website that provides resources to help psychiatrists understand data security exposures and minimize the effects of a breach on their practice.

Key features of the eRiskHub portal include:

• Security assistance – Security FAQs, ability to submit security questions for the FAQs, free consultations with a Security Coach
• HIPAA assistance – HIPAA FAQs, ability to submit questions for the FAQs, free consultations with a HIPAA Coach
• Risk management tools – Free cyber risk self-assessments, state breach notification laws, data breach cost calculators, policy templates
• PRMS resources – Model confidentiality agreement, HIPAA compliance checklist, HIPAA Updates archives
• News center – Cyber risk stories, security and compliance blogs, security news, risk management events, industry links

If you are a PRMS client, you will be receiving your access code via mail, email and in your policy renewal packet. Or, visit eRiskHub.com/prms  for details.

In the event of a privacy breach, PRMS’s comprehensive medical professional liability insurance program includes robust medical license and HIPAA investigation or civil proceeding defense coverage along with breach management expenses such as costs related to patient notification and credit monitoring.  Should you experience a data breach event, please call your PRMS Claims Examiner immediately at (800) 245-3333.

I hope you will check out this new resource!

Donna Vanderpool, MBA, JD – Vice President, Risk Management   As Vice President of Risk Management, Ms. Vanderpool is responsible for the development and implementation of PRMS’s risk management services for The Psychiatrists’ Program. Ms. Vanderpool has developed expertise in the areas of HIPAA and forensic practice, and has consulted, written and spoken nationally on these and other healthcare law and risk management topics. She most recently wrote a chapter concerning the risks of harm to forensic experts for Robert L. Sadoff, MD’s book Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychiatry: Minimizing Harm, (Feb. 2011/Wiley). Ms. Vanderpool received her undergraduate degree from James Madison University, and her MBA and JD from George Mason University. Prior to joining PRMS in 2000, Ms. Vanderpool practiced criminal defense law, taught business and legal courses as an adjunct faculty member at a community college and spent eight years managing a general surgical practice in Virginia. Follow Donna on LinkedIn.