How would you feel if your confidential health information was leaked to unauthorized persons? According to a study by the Identity Theft Resource Center, healthcare data breaches reached an all-time high in 2020, compromising more than 21 million records. With healthcare organizations becoming a prime target for cybercriminals, it’s critical to ensure that your personal health information is kept safe and secure. In this post, we’ll explore Novant My Chart Charlotte’s security measures and provide tips to help you keep your health information safe.
Why Is Keeping Your Health Information Safe Important?
Your health information is among the most sensitive and personal data that exists. It contains details about your medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions, which can be used to steal your identity, commit fraud, or even harm you. Hackers can use this information to gain access to your financial accounts, obtain prescription drugs, or impersonate you to obtain medical services. Moreover, a data breach can damage the reputation of healthcare providers and erode the trust between patients and providers. Therefore, it’s crucial to take steps to protect your health information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
Novant My Chart Charlotte’s Security Measures
Novant My Chart Charlotte is committed to safeguarding your health information and has implemented several security measures to protect your privacy. Here are some of the key measures:
Secure Login
To access your health information on Novant My Chart Charlotte, you need to create a secure login that includes a unique username and password. You should choose a strong password that is difficult to guess and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Additionally, you can enable two-factor authentication, which requires an additional security code sent to your mobile phone or email to verify your identity.
Encryption
Novant My Chart Charlotte uses encryption to protect your health information while it’s being transmitted over the internet. Encryption ensures that your data is scrambled and unreadable to anyone who intercepts it, making it almost impossible for hackers to steal your information. Additionally, Novant My Chart Charlotte stores your health information in an encrypted format, which adds an extra layer of protection to your data.
Firewalls
Novant My Chart Charlotte uses firewalls to prevent unauthorized access to its computer systems. Firewalls are software or hardware devices that monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic, blocking any suspicious or malicious traffic from reaching the servers. This helps to prevent cyberattacks such as hacking, malware, or phishing.
Regular Audits and Monitoring
Novant My Chart Charlotte conducts regular audits and monitoring of its computer systems to detect and prevent any security breaches. This includes reviewing system logs, analyzing network traffic, and testing for vulnerabilities. If any suspicious activity is detected, Novant My Chart Charlotte takes immediate action to investigate and mitigate the risk.
How to Keep Your Health Information Safe
While Novant My Chart Charlotte has implemented robust security measures, you also play a crucial role in protecting your health information. Here are some tips to help you keep your information safe:
Use Strong Passwords
Choose a strong password that is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable passwords such as “password” or “123456”. Use a password manager to securely store your passwords and generate strong passwords for you.
Be Wary of Suspicious Emails or Calls
Don’t click on links or download attachments from suspicious emails or messages. Cybercriminals often use phishing scams to trick people into revealing their personal information or installing malware on their devices. Be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages that ask for your personal or financial information.
Update Your Devices and Software
Keep your devices and software up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. These updates often contain fixes for known vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals. Set your devices to automatically update to ensure that you’re always protected.
Monitor Your Accounts Regularly
Review your medical bills, insurance statements, and credit reports regularly to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges or accounts opened in your name. Report any suspicious activity to your healthcare provider or financial institution immediately.
Securely Dispose of Your Health Information
When disposing of your health information, make sure to shred or destroy any physical documents containing sensitive information. If you’re disposing of electronic devices such as computers or phones, make sure to wipe the devices clean of any personal data before disposing of them.
Conclusion
Protecting your health information is a shared responsibility between you and your healthcare provider. By following the tips outlined above and leveraging Novant My Chart Charlotte’s security measures, you can help ensure that your health information remains safe and confidential. Remember, taking proactive steps to protect your information can save you a lot of trouble and headache in the long run. Stay safe!
