How to Manage Security Incidents in NABIDH EMR

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Healthcare is experiencing transformative changes globally, and Dubai is spearheading this revolution in ways more than one. DHA’s NABIDH policies are redefining healthcare delivery and setting very high standards for the health sector worldwide. It’s quickly becoming evident that the true power of NABIDH integration lies in embracing the NABIDH policies as a foundation for efficient and secure exchange and management of healthcare information. On one hand, NABIDH enables healthcare providers all over Dubai to improve quality of care by providing access to patient health information over a unified platform. On the other, it equips them with the necessary standards, guidelines, and protocols to ensure responsible and secure utilization of NABIDH EMR.

 

What is NABIDH’s Incident & Breach Management Policy?

NABIDH’s Incident and Breach Management Policy is a structured set of procedures and protocols to follow in case of a breach or security incident. While NABIDH prioritizes health information safety and security, it also provides a comprehensive framework that outlines the responsibilities and procedures concerning the detection, reporting, and management of security incidents and breaches of patient health information over the NABIDH platform.

This policy is meant to ensure that every NABIDH compliant healthcare entity in Dubai has the necessary tools and procedures in place to detect, report, and manage security incidents within the stipulated time. It also establishes the roles and responsibilities concerning incident and breach management for individuals as well as healthcare facilities accessing NABIDH EMR.

 

What Steps to Take to Manage Security Incidents in NABIDH

Every healthcare provider is expected to have a sufficient amount of security measures including firewalls, user authorization control, and access control implemented by default. Over and above these, NABIDH prescribes a set of procedures that have to be followed in the event of a breach or security incident. Here’s a more detailed look at how healthcare facilities can prepare themselves to manage these incidents effectively:

 

To Improve Readiness to Handle Security Incidents/Breaches

  1. Implement internal policies and procedures for breach notification. All healthcare providers should develop and document the course of action to be followed based on the incident priority matrix provided by NABIDH. They should also ensure that all internal notification processes and root cause analyses are included in the procedure documentation.

 

  1. Appoint an information security officer. This security officer should be in charge of monitoring and auditing the security measures at regular intervals, and should be equipped to collaborate with the NABIDH security team to identify, investigate, assess and mitigate the effects of reportable security events.

 

  1. Define roles and responsibilities. Healthcare entities should ensure that all NABIDH users in their respective facilities are aware of their role in protecting PHI, and are trained to focus on maintaining the security of health information. In the event of a breach or incident, they should be able to identify and notify it to the relevant authorities.

 

To Better Manage Security Events/ Breaches

  1. Review incidents and cooperate. Healthcare facilities should conduct internal reviews of security incidents and cooperate with the NABIDH Information Security Officer for the investigation, assessment, and reporting processes. They should collaborate with NABIDH to develop, approve, and implement a mitigation plan to prevent future incidents from taking place.

 

  1. Communicate and notify. Healthcare facilities should communicate all reportable events as outlined in the Breach Notification Policy, along with their internal review reports to the NABIDH authorities within 48 hours of discovering the incident. They should also ensure that all subjects of care affected by the incident are also notified as required.

 

  1. Review and improve. Healthcare entities should review their existing policies to make necessary changes to avoid breaches in future. They should collaborate with the NABIDH Information Security Officer to conduct educational campaigns within their facility to improve awareness amongst NABIDH users in their facility.

 

The Incident and Breach Management Policy emphasizes protective measures as well as collaborative efforts that healthcare entities need to focus on for prompt incident reporting, investigation, and protection of PHI to comply with the applicable laws. These steps can ensure that healthcare entities can better handle security incidents and breaches in accordance with the policy requirements.