One of the worst things that could happen to your dental practice is to have a hacker access the protected health information of your patients. Then what would you do? You can’t just assume everything will be okay. The law is very strict about the steps you need to take when protected patient information is accessed, and it is potentially a very expensive and time consuming process to notify every patient in your database, offer credit monitoring services, and comply with the other regulations following a breach.
And keep in mind that your computer system is vulnerable not only from direct attack but also from a virus that a staff member accidentally allows into your system. That’s why it’s wise to consider data breach insurance. This type of insurance covers you in the case of someone hacking into your system, and it typically also covers you if someone physically steals your patient records.
Data breach insurance covers the costs of responding to a breach, which may include liability coverage for lawsuits, attorney’s fees, credit monitoring, media restoration, and notification of patients. And unlike you, the insurance company knows exactly how to respond to difficult situations following a breach, saving you valuable time and ensuring everything is done correctly.
It’s an unfortunate reality that dental practices are at risk for the theft of patient information. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead. Consider talking to your insurance agent to see if data breach coverage is a good fit for you.