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The Quadruple Aim
Quadruple Aim

A Conceptual Framework

Improving the U.S. health care system requires four aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs and improving care team well-being. HITEQ Center resources seek to provide content and direction aligned with the goals of the Quadruple Aim

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Resource Overview

General cybersecurity guidance would suggest that Health IT breach should not be considered a matter of "If", but rather a matter of "when". How an organization prepares and responds to an episode of breach is just as important as defending itself from breach. Unfortunately, Health Centers are seen as a domain with high potential for data breach and consequently it is critical for Health Center leadership to embrace breach mitigation across their entire organization vs being a matter to be addressed by their Health IT team.

Breach can occur through both internal and external network leaks, through malware such as Ransomware, and through physical means on site. The resources provided below are meant to provide general knowledge about breach mitigation and methods for mitigating against breach incidences.

Breach Mitigation and Response Resources

Health Center Breach Awareness
HITEQ Center

Health Center Breach Awareness

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights Breach Portal

Healthcare providers have become a lucrative target for cyber criminals and many reported breaches are occuring at health centers. Since 2009, when the Department of Health and Human Services started tracking breaches that involved protected health information exposure of 500 patients or more, upwards of 1700 cases have been reported. These breach incidences are highlighted on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights Breach Portal.

It is important for Health Centers to be aware of breaches that are occuring, the ways in which health systems were attacked, and the types of information stolen so that they can properly address these issues within their security risk assessment documentation. The HHS Breach Portal documents aspects such as the health care provider involved, the number individuals affected, the type of breach and the location of breached information (e.g. email vs network server).

From the HHS website: "As required by section 13402(e)(4) of the HITECH Act, the Secretary must post a list of breaches of unsecured protected health information affecting 500 or more individuals. These breaches are now posted in a new, more accessible format that allows users to search and sort the posted breaches. Additionally, this new format includes brief summaries of the breach cases that OCR has investigated and closed, as well as the names of private practice providers who have reported breaches of unsecured protected health information to the Secretary."

Use the link below to find out more about breaches that have recently occurred within health centers and other health care providers across the U.S.

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Acknowledgements

This resource collection was cultivated and developed by the HITEQ team with valuable suggestions and contributions from HITEQ Project collaborators.

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