St. Luke’s Health Care System Case Study Questions
- Visit the NetMotion Web site (www.netmotionwireless.com) and access and read other Mobility XE success stories. Discuss the patterns that can be observed in the benefits that Mobility XE users have realized via its deployment and use.
- Do some Internet research on the security implications of HIPPA requirements for hospital networks. Discuss the major types of security mechanisms that must be in place to ensure hospital compliance with HIPPA requirements.
- Do some Internet research on the use of VLANs in hospitals. Summarize the benefits of using VLANs in hospitals and identify examples of how St. Luke’s could further enhance its wireless network by implementing VLANs.
Patterns Observed in the benefits of the Mobility XE Services to the Users
Net Motion’s Mobility XE serves a diverse clientele considering that users are spread out across a broad range of industries and fields. The most significant benefit of the service among users is consistent access to networks regardless of frequent disruptions in the setting. Users claim that there is a very minimal chance of applications crashing because of network-related problems and that, as a result, operations are seamless. This benefit is very valuable to users who operate across wide distances such as airports and oceans where a single network is not sufficient. In addition to consistency in network access, Mobility XE benefits users by offering constantly-updated secure connections through time; sufficient bandwidth to support peak usage; reliability and performance; superior precision in data management; and support for a range of devices, including computers and mobile phones (Mobile Diagnostics Software | NetMotion, 2018). Other universal benefits include a high quality of service, accurate analytics and notifications, and application persistence. With regard to application persistence, Mobility XE bears a unique ability to preserve any open applications and network sessions.
Major Types of security Mechanisms for Ensuing Hospital Compliance with HIPPA Requirements
The primary security mechanisms for ensuring compliance with HIPPA requirements are administrative safeguards. Under HIPPA, installation of Wi-Fi requires every hospital to keenly consider stipulations on security. This includes administrative safeguards of risk management, risk assessment, as well as the policies governing usage. To comply with the security rules, hospital must undertake a three-step process. First, they must perform risk analysis in order to form the basis for the organization’s ongoing risk management procedures. They must also identify the deficiencies of the organization and develop a framework for establishing suitable security measures (Wu, 2007). Secondly, hospitals must appoint a security officer who will be tasked with the conduction of risk analyses as well as management of risks. Thirdly, each hospital needs to develop and update procedures and policies as part of the risk management process. Healthcare centers can integrate evaluation routines of current procedures and policies as well, which can reveal possible gaps that need to be considered during HIPPA security compliance.
Physical safeguards are also considerable security mechanisms. They are specifically implemented to make sure that all computers are adequately protected. From fire, intrusion, or other environmental hazards. This is also related to the protection of electrically-stored data. Only select authorized parties should be allowed to access computing hardware in a health setting. This includes facility security plans, contingency operations, workstations use, and maintenance records. Safeguard might also include the use of safe lock systems, administrative measures, and backup systems (Wu, 2007). Other mechanisms comprise technical security services and technical security mechanisms safeguards. The former is intended to ensure the security of data counting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This safeguarded looks after information systems such as emergency access procedures, encryption mechanisms, and unique user identification among others. On the other hand, technical security mechanisms protect electronically-transmitted data from interception or decryption by unintended parties.
It is important to note that wireless LAN networks are vulnerable to DOS attacks. Additionally, attackers can use a device to produce noise at the same frequency as that of the network with the intent of jamming the band. Data thieves could also use a rogue access point to communicate false SSID to lure clients into sharing their data. Therefore, security mechanisms for ensuring compliance with HIPPA are critical to the safety, security, and success of networks in the healthcare setting.
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Benefits of the Use of VLANS in Hospitals
The use of VLANs in hospitals yields many benefits. Firstly, their use can ease the overall functionality of a healthcare system. Since hospitals are constantly growing in size and complexity, VLAN systems can help simplify operations in a compound healthcare setting. Networks are essential as they support the links between hospital administrations, staff, patients, and families. Secondly, VLANs can boost the performance of a healthcare institution as they are faster compared to traditional methods of linking and managing data. Practitioners who utilize barcode scanning technology in the management of patient data and prescriptions can share it instantly with other departments in a faster and seamless way. Thirdly, Maintenance of VLANs is quite easy and cheaper than routed networks when segment into smaller VLANs. Lastly, VLANs guarantee security (Management Association, 2014). VLAN environments that have multiple broadcast domains, administrators usually have control over all ports and users. This implies that malicious users cannot plug into the network to spy or steal data using data sniffers.
As highlighted in the St Luke’s Healthcare system case study, the use of networks in every facet of an organization increases the chance of hacking. Instances of having can result in significant losses and detrimental outcomes. Hence, the use of VLAN serves as a solution. Along with enhanced security, easy and cheap maintenance makes VLANs stand out among other network systems. Into the bargain, VLANs can improve staff efficiency since users with similar traits share the same network segment and when a new switch is provisioned, all procures and policies already configured for a certain VLAN are automatically implemented on port assignment.
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