Healthcare Assessments & Compliance

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a U.S. federal law that protects patient health information. Covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates must comply with HIPAA requirements to protect Protected Health Information (PHI).

HITRUST is a certifiable framework that harmonizes multiple healthcare regulations including HIPAA, HITECH, and other standards. While HIPAA sets legal requirements, HITRUST provides a comprehensive, standardized approach to managing information security and privacy with certification options. HITRUST helps organizations demonstrate HIPAA compliance more effectively.

NABIDH (National Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health) is a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) initiative that requires all DHA-licensed healthcare facilities to securely exchange health information. All healthcare facilities operating in Dubai must comply with NABIDH requirements to ensure secure health information exchange and interoperability.

ADHICS (Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information and Cyber Security Standards) is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework established by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi. All DoH-licensed healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, and telemedicine providers must comply with ADHICS requirements.

Assessment timelines vary based on the framework, organization size, and current compliance maturity. HIPAA assessments typically take 2-4 months, HITRUST certifications 6-12 months, NABIDH compliance 6-9 months, and ADHICS implementation 9-24 months depending on facility size and complexity.

Penalties vary by framework. HIPAA violations can result in fines up to $1.5 million per year. HITRUST non-compliance may result in loss of certification and business opportunities. NABIDH and ADHICS non-compliance can result in regulatory penalties, license suspension, and operational restrictions. All frameworks may also result in reputational damage and legal liabilities.

Yes, many healthcare organizations combine multiple assessments to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. For example, HITRUST assessments can demonstrate HIPAA compliance, and organizations operating in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi can coordinate NABIDH and ADHICS assessments. Our team helps coordinate multiple assessments to leverage shared evidence and reduce overall timeline and cost.

Compliance is an ongoing process. After initial certification or compliance validation, organizations must maintain controls, conduct regular assessments, and update documentation. Most frameworks require annual recertification or reassessment. We provide ongoing support to help you maintain compliance, address changes in regulations, and prepare for recertification.

Assessment scope depends on the framework and your specific needs. HIPAA assessments focus on systems handling PHI. HITRUST allows scoping based on organizational factors. NABIDH focuses on health information exchange systems. ADHICS requires assessment of all systems processing patient health information. We help you determine the appropriate scope to balance compliance requirements with efficiency.

Required documentation typically includes security policies and procedures, risk assessments, access control documentation, incident response plans, business associate agreements (for HIPAA), training records, audit logs, and evidence of control implementation. We help you identify required documentation and develop missing policies and procedures as part of the assessment process.