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Playing with Firewalls: The Heat Is On for Medical Practices to Prevent Medical Identity Theft
Course Overview
From late 2009 through the end of 2023, nearly 6,000 large health care data breaches were reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. In 2023, breaches resulted in the unauthorized exposure of 133 million health care records. When a health care data breach occurs, individuals are at risk for medical identity theft.

Learn about the basics of medical identity theft and discover how to prevent medical identity theft in medical practices.
Course Information
Course Description
Medical identity theft is a growing threat that can affect both healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. This course explores the risks associated with medical identity theft, healthcare data breaches, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities in clinical settings. Learners will examine how stolen health information can be used for fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to healthcare services, as well as the potential impact on patient safety, privacy, and trust.

The course highlights practical strategies medical assistants can use to help safeguard protected health information (PHI), recognize warning signs of identity theft, support patients affected by privacy breaches, and strengthen a culture of cybersecurity awareness within healthcare organizations. Particular attention is given to phishing attacks, data protection best practices, HIPAA compliance, patient education, and the important role medical assistants play in preventing security incidents.

Learning Objectives
As a result of completing this course, learners will be able to:
  • Describe the causes and consequences of medical identity theft and healthcare data breaches.
  • Identify common warning signs that may indicate a patient has become a victim of medical identity theft.
  • Recognize cybersecurity threats such as phishing attacks and social engineering schemes targeting healthcare organizations.
  • Apply best practices for protecting patient information and maintaining HIPAA compliance.
  • Explain the medical assistant’s role in supporting data security, patient education, and breach prevention efforts.
Course Contributors
Mark Harris
Author, "Playing with Firewalls: The Heat is On for Medical Practices to Prevent Medical Identity Theft".
Intended Audience
This course is designed for medical assistants, CMA (AAMA) professionals, allied health professionals, and ambulatory care team members who handle patient information or support healthcare operations. Learners will gain practical knowledge to help protect patient privacy, recognize cybersecurity risks, educate patients, and contribute to a stronger culture of information security within healthcare organizations.
Retake Information
Please note that retakes for this online course require repurchase.
Summary
Availability:
On-Demand
Access expires 14 days after start
Cost:
Member: $20.00
Nonmember: $30.00
CEU Offered:
2.5 Gen/Adm CEUs
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