Nobody wants the hassle of carrying two smartphones, but for many enterprises, the security concerns surrounding a bring your own device (BYOD) policy give them pause. In the home health care industry, the concerns around an employee using their own mobile device tend to multiply. Not only is the security of the system at risk, but the personal information of the patient must be protected.
Many home health care companies find that the benefits outweigh the risk of a security breach or the acquisition of information through theft. Here are a few of the benefits of employees carrying a personal mobile device:
Reduced maintenance and updates: When an employee owns the mobile device, they manage the need for a new phone or the updating of the operating system. In many cases, the smartphone of an employee may be more up-to-date than it would be if updates were managed by the IT team.
The elimination of a learning curve: While employees will still need to be trained on specific applications, they’ll already be familiar with the general navigation of their mobile device.
Elimination of device cost: Enterprises save a lot of money by having employees use their own mobile device. In most cases, the employee is paid a stipend for data usage, but otherwise, the costs are incidental.
There is one major risk when it comes to a BYOD policy, and it’s the increased likelihood that the enterprise will experience a security breach. On a more granular level, there’s also the chance that a patient’s information could be left open on a screen too long, allowing an unauthorized individual to obtain and misuse that information.
Before using their own mobile device, employees need to be fully trained in corporate policies related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In order to enforce the policies, the back office should be utilizing mobile device management (MDM) to be HIPAA compliant.
In most cases, security issues with a mobile device aren’t a problem with the device, but are often related to a misunderstanding of policy. Home health care employees should be fully trained in the kinds of scenarios that could compromise the safety of the data on their smartphones.
Another essential feature for a mobile device being used in home health care is a time-out feature that prevents information from being gathered from a phone that has been misplaced or left at a location.
At Truth Comm, we provide unbiased information so you can make the most effective decision for your business. If you’re considering a BYOD program for your employees, talk with us first about ways to mitigate security risks. Contact us for an appointment.