Caring for Data Is Caring for Patients: Why Your EHR Isn’t the Whole HIPAA Story

Medical professional reviewing patient information on a tablet in a clinical setting.

A dentist recently asked me, “Our EHR vendor says they’re HIPAA compliant. So we’re done with HIPAA, right?” It’s was an understandable assumption from a busy small practice. But, HIPAA compliance isn’t something you can simply buy with an electronic health record (EHR) system.

Compliance Is a Team Effort, Not Just a Feature

HIPAA puts the responsibility on the practice, not just the software. Even the best EHR can only handle part of the work. True compliance covers:

• Administrative safeguards – the policies and training that guide daily decisions

• Physical safeguards – controlling who can access devices and facilities

• Technical safeguards – encryption, access controls, and audit logs
  

Your EHR is an important tool, but it can’t write your policies, train your team, or decide who gets access.

CARE for Data, CARE for Patients

At Sorticulture, we like to say caring for data is caring for the patient. When you protect health information, you’re showing respect for every person who trusts you with their story.

Think of it like this: your EHR vendor provides the sturdy car, but you and your team still steer, check the brakes, and follow the rules of the road.

Practical Ways to Show You CARE

You don’t need a huge IT department, just consistent habits that put patients first:

• Complete a risk assessment once a year and act on what you find.

• Address gaps with clear policies for access, passwords, and device security.

• Recommend improvements like multi-factor authentication and regular updates.

• Educate and reinforce—make HIPAA training part of your culture so everyone knows how to handle patient data.

The Heart of the Matter

A HIPAA-ready EHR is a smart start, but real compliance comes from a mindset of care. When you invest in policies, training, and thoughtful processes, you’re not just meeting a regulation, you’re protecting the people who rely on you.

Caring for data is caring for the patient.Your EHR helps, but the care you and your team provide is what keeps patient information truly safe.