The telehealth industry, which provides healthcare services remotely using digital communication technologies, represents a transformative shift in healthcare delivery.
As healthcare increasingly moves online, more and more providers are delivering care remotely. This shift offers numerous benefits, from increased accessibility to greater convenience for patients and providers alike.
However, with the rise of remote workforces comes the challenge of ensuring that all operations remain secure and compliant with healthcare regulations like HIPAA.
In this blog, we’ll explore the growth of the telehealth industry, the unique security challenges it presents, and how telehealth companies can securely embrace a BYOD workforce.
The Evolution of Telehealth
Telehealth has been around for a while, but its adoption has skyrocketed in recent years.
The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, acted as a catalyst, pushing healthcare providers to quickly adapt to remote care models to continue serving patients while minimizing physical contact.
And the industry’s growth is projected to continue rising.
In 2022, the U.S. telehealth market size was estimated at $29.6 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.9% from 2023 to 2030 (Grand View Research, 2023).
With this rapid growth comes an increase in the number of remote workers.
Clinicians, therapists, administrative staff, and other healthcare professionals are now working from various locations, utilizing digital tools to connect with patients and manage their work. This flexibility not only helps in maintaining continuity of care but also allows healthcare providers to reach underserved populations who might not have easy access to medical facilities.
Importance of secure and compliant operations
But with this expansion also comes the rising importance of maintaining security and compliance. Afterall, healthcare providers must ensure that patient data is always handled securely to comply with HIPAA and other strict regulations.
This includes protecting against threats such as malware and unauthorized access, which can compromise sensitive information.
For telehealth companies, especially those employing remote workers who use their own devices, this presents a unique set of challenges. Ensuring that all devices are secure and that data privacy is maintained is essential for protecting patient information and maintaining trust in telehealth services.
Security Challenges in Telehealth: Enabling BYOD Workforces
BYOD Trends in Telehealth
In the rapidly evolving landscape of telehealth, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) workforce policies have become increasingly prevalent. Telehealth companies, like many other industries, are adopting BYOD for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, BYOD allows companies to eliminate the cost and frustration of purchasing and maintaining laptops, resulting in significant savings. In the same vein, this eliminates the burden of tracking down the laptops when workers leave.
Moreover, BYOD enables healthcare professionals to work from anywhere, using the devices they are most comfortable and familiar with, enhancing flexibility and productivity.
Security Risks and Compliance Issues
Despite the benefits of BYOD, it also brings forth a myriad of security risks and compliance challenges that telehealth companies must navigate.
- Threats
- BYOD environments, when left unsecured, are susceptible to various threats, including malware, spyware, shadow IT, and unauthorized access. These threats can compromise sensitive patient information and disrupt healthcare operations.
- HIPAA Compliance Requirements
- Telehealth companies are subject to strict regulatory requirements, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Ensuring compliance with HIPAA standards, particularly regarding the protection of patient data, is paramount.
- Data Security
- Unsecured BYOD devices pose significant data security challenges, as sensitive company and patient data can be stored on personal devices without adequate oversight.
To mitigate these risks, telehealth companies must implement comprehensive data security measures on workers’ personal laptops.
Case Study: Real-World Challenges at a Telehealth Company
We recently spoke with the CIO of a telehealth company that employs contractors to conduct remote therapy sessions.
With around 400 employees using their personal devices for work, he expressed concerns about spyware and malware threats. The CIO also needs to ensure HIPAA compliance and implement data security measures to protect sensitive patient and company information.
To address these challenges, the telehealth company is actively seeking a solution that can secure its contractors’ personal devices while maintaining productivity and compliance.
That is where Venn comes in.
Venn’s BYOD Workforce Enablement Solution for Telehealth
In today’s evolving telehealth landscape, securing BYOD workforces presents unique challenges. At Venn, we’ve collaborated extensively with telehealth companies to understand and address their specific needs and pain points.
Our purpose-built, patented technology for BYOD workforce enablement empowers healthcare professionals to safely use their personal devices for work from anywhere. This eliminates the cost and frustration associated with purchasing and maintaining dedicated laptops, thereby enhancing productivity and flexibility for remote workers. It also removes the burden from IT teams of tracking and managing laptops when employees leave.
Venn offers a radically simplified and cost-effective solution for securing remote work on any unmanaged or BYOD computer, outperforming traditional virtual desktops and comprehensive PC lockdowns. Our solution establishes a company-controlled Secure Enclave on the user’s PC or Mac, ensuring that business activities are isolated and protected from any personal use on the same device.
By choosing Venn, telehealth companies can safeguard sensitive information on any remote contractor’s or employee’s device, maintain HIPAA compliance, and defend against malware and spyware. Our solution also reduces IT complexities, lowers costs, and streamlines the onboarding and offboarding processes.
Secure your telehealth BYOD workforce with Venn.
See Venn in action here.
