The start of a new year offers a natural opportunity to reflect on what matters most. In healthcare, one constant remains central to our work: trust. Patients entrust us with highly sensitive information, and protecting that information is essential to delivering safe, high-quality care.
Privacy and security are often seen as technical requirements or routine training topics. In reality, they influence everyday decisions, shape workplace culture, and affect how teams communicate and collaborate. January is a valuable moment to pause and consider how privacy shows in daily work—not just as a policy, but as a shared responsibility.
Privacy is Shaped by Everyday Work
Many privacy and security risks do not stem from intentional misuse of information. Instead, they arise during routine moments in fast-paced healthcare environments when communication is frequent, workflows are complex, and priorities compete for attention.
Recognizing these moments helps teams approach privacy with greater awareness and confidence. When privacy becomes part of how work is done—rather than something addressed only after an issue arises—it is easier to navigate complex situations thoughtfully and consistently.
To support ongoing awareness, the Behavioral Health (BH) Connect team offers Monthly Security Reminder emails that organizations can use to reinforce a security-first mindset. These reminders feature timely topics and practical considerations teams may encounter throughout the year, along with shareable resources such as tip sheets, email templates, reference links, and more.
Moving Beyond Compliance
Regulations and policies create a vital foundation, but they represent only one piece of effective data protection. A strong privacy culture emerges when staff understand why safeguarding information matters and how it builds patient trust, reinforces organizational integrity, and drives quality improvement. This culture is reinforced when privacy is discussed openly, supported by leadership, and integrated into everyday workflows rather than treated as a one-time requirement.
BH Connect’s monthly security reminders can help extend these conversations beyond formal training by offering regular touchpoints that encourage staff to stay aware of evolving risks. January’s reminder, for example, focuses on social engineering, emphasizing the importance of questioning unexpected requests, verifying identities, and reporting suspicious activity.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the year ahead, privacy and security remain a collective effort across all roles. Thoughtful awareness, shared accountability, and an ongoing commitment to protecting sensitive information help strengthen trust and support high-quality care throughout the year.
If you are interested in being added to the contact list to receive BH Connect Monthly Security Reminder emails, send a request to bhconnect@metastar.com.