For independent healthcare
Independent practices carry the same HIPAA obligations as hospital systems — but without the IT department, compliance officer, or six-figure security budget. Patient Protect is the platform built to close that gap.
6x
Increase in attacks on independent providers since 2021
$9.8M
Average cost of a healthcare breach in 2024
258
Days — average breach lifecycle before containment
The threat landscape
Attackers have figured out what the industry hasn’t: independent practices are the softest target in healthcare. They hold the same sensitive data as hospitals — patient records, insurance information, Social Security numbers, treatment histories — but without the security infrastructure to protect it.
A dental office with four operatories handles thousands of patient records containing ePHI. A solo therapist conducting telehealth sessions stores some of the most sensitive clinical information in healthcare. A chiropractor with three locations transmits X-ray data across networks every day. Each of these practices carries hospital-grade regulatory obligations under HIPAA — the same 45+ requirements, the same penalty schedule, the same breach notification rules.
The difference is resources. Hospitals have CISOs, dedicated security teams, and seven-figure compliance budgets. Independent practices have the front desk, a local IT contractor, and whatever their EHR vendor tells them is “compliant.” Attackers know this. Ransomware attacks on independent providers rose 6x since 2021. The Change Healthcare breach — 190 million patients, $1.5 billion in losses — showed how one compromised vendor can cascade across the entire independent practice ecosystem.
There is no small-practice exemption under HIPAA.
A solo practitioner and a hospital system face identical requirements. OCR does not reduce obligations based on practice size, revenue, or patient volume. The penalty schedule is the same: $100 to $50,000 per violation, up to $1.5 million annually per violation category. Size does not protect you — it just means you have fewer resources to respond when something goes wrong.
The compliance gap
Most compliance vendors produce policies, checklists, and risk assessment documents that satisfy the letter of the law on paper. But no one verifies that the controls described in those documents are actually implemented. The gap between what your compliance binder says and what your practice does is where breaches live.
Enterprise compliance platforms cost $15,000–$50,000 per year, require dedicated compliance officers, and assume you have an IT department. Independent practices don't. The result: practices cobble together spreadsheets, generic templates, and annual consultant visits — none of which provide continuous protection.
When the choice is between a $5,000 compliance program and a new X-ray machine, compliance loses every time. Most independent practices know they need HIPAA compliance. They skip it because every option they've seen is too expensive, too complex, or too time-consuming for a practice their size. That's not a knowledge problem — it's a market failure.
Every specialty
Patient Protect covers the HIPAA requirements specific to each specialty — from dental imaging workflows to telehealth session security. Each guide below covers the compliance obligations, common risks, and platform features relevant to your practice type.
Digital imaging, PMS integrations, and front-desk communication compliance.
HIPAA for dental practices
Psychotherapy notes, telehealth, and 42 CFR Part 2 protections.
HIPAA for behavioral health
Multi-location imaging, OIG scrutiny, and lean-staff security.
HIPAA for chiropractic practices
Retinal imaging, optical lab BAAs, and vision plan data security.
HIPAA for optometry practices
Referral workflows, workers' comp records, and high-volume access controls.
HIPAA for physical therapy
Lab integrations, e-prescribing, patient portals, and multi-provider access.
HIPAA for medical practices
Platform BAAs, remote device security, and cross-state compliance.
HIPAA for telehealth practices
Clinical photography, teledermatology, and pathology integrations.
HIPAA for dermatology practices
Minor consent, parental access rights, and immunization reporting.
HIPAA for pediatric practices
Psychotherapy notes, 42 CFR Part 2, and EPCS compliance.
HIPAA for psychiatry practices
Shared workstations, walk-in identity verification, and high-volume documentation.
HIPAA for urgent care centers
Stack or standalone
Patient Protect is not designed to replace every compliance relationship you have. If you work with a compliance consultant, an MSP, or another platform — Patient Protect adds the security layer that documentation-focused vendors don’t cover: real-time threat detection, access monitoring, vendor risk scanning, and audit-ready evidence generation.
If you don’t have a compliance partner yet, Patient Protect serves as a complete standalone platform — covering risk assessments, policy generation, workforce training, BAA management, incident response, and continuous monitoring. Everything your practice needs under one subscription, starting at $39 per month with no contracts.
Already have a vendor?
Add the security layer they’re missing.
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One platform. Everything you need.
Built by a team that started here
Patient Protect was built by a team that includes a practicing dental hygienist, a former government CTO, and a SaaS founder who has spent 15 years building enterprise technology. We know independent practice because we are independent practice.
14-day free trial · $39/month Core · $99/month Pro · No contracts
