Securing PDAs in the Health Care Environment

Ultimately, the privacy and security of patient medical information is in the hands of each person who touches it. Every staff member should understand the importance of patients' privacy and take ownership of maintaining that privacy. Every person who works in the medical field, whether they be physicians, nurses, technicians, or IT support staff, must understand the HIPAA regulations and the significance of complying with them. For users of handheld computers storing patient data, it's imperative that they have an understanding of the risks involved and the steps they can take to protect the sensitive data they carry in the palms of their hands.