Healthcare privacy teams are facing increasing pressure. Whether it’s managing surges in data access investigations, navigating team turnover, or preparing for more aggressive regulatory oversight, the demands on these teams are higher than ever.
While some may view third-party help as costly or hard to manage, the reality is that managed services are becoming a strategic, cost-effective way to extend privacy operations. And with proposed HIPAA Security Rule changes expected later this year or in early 2026 and taking effect just 60 days after finalization, healthcare organizations need solutions that allow for fast, compliant adaptation.
Here are five key reasons healthcare organizations are turning to managed services in 2025:
1) Keeping Up with Proactive Security Expectations
In the past, privacy programs could afford to be reactive, but that’s no longer the case. The proposed 2025 HIPAA Security Rule places significant emphasis on proactive patient data monitoring and formalized risk analysis. With PHI breaches on the rise, the need to actively track inappropriate access or detect suspicious behavior is more urgent.
Managed services help by providing trained privacy analysts who can take on the day-to-day work of monitoring PHI access logs and generating reports, giving internal teams the breathing room to focus on strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance planning.
2) Supporting Business Continuity in Staffing
Most healthcare continuity plans focus on EHR downtime solutions. But in a regulatory environment like healthcare, continuity of staff knowledge and expertise is just as critical. If a privacy analyst goes on extended leave or a position becomes vacant, the impact is immediate, and potentially risky from a compliance standpoint.
With managed services, privacy programs can quickly fill those gaps with experienced professionals who already understand healthcare workflows and HIPAA standards. This means the organization remains compliant and fully operational while internal staffing is addressed.
3) Staying Prepared for Audits
OCR audits and internal compliance reviews can place sudden strain on privacy teams. The revised HIPAA Security Rule proposal requires ongoing audit readiness, including current documentation, consistent access reviews, and documented risk assessments.
Partnering with a patient privacy managed services provider allows organizations to either offload the prep work or rely on experts to maintain regular compliance routines during the audit process. This helps avoid interruptions to daily operations while still meeting all required benchmarks.
4) Managing Costs Without Compromise
One of the most compelling reasons healthcare organizations turn to managed services is cost control. Unlike hiring full-time staff, managed services offer the flexibility to scale up or down based on the organization’s changing needs. This flexibility helps avoid long hiring timelines, reduces training costs, and supports more accurate budgeting with predictable monthly costs.
And now that noncompliance could lead to even steeper penalties, the cost of doing nothing is often far greater than investing in scalable support.
5) Reducing Team Burnout
Privacy teams are increasingly asked to do more with less. The volume of investigations, access reviews, and regulatory tasks can quickly become overwhelming, especially in smaller departments. Over time, the constant pressure leads to burnout, turnover, and loss of institutional knowledge.
Bringing in managed services helps alleviate that burden. When organizations supplement their team with skilled support, they create space for internal staff to focus on the work that matters most, like long-term privacy strategy and process improvement, without sacrificing day-to-day operations.
iatricSystems™ Can Help
At iatricSystems, our Patient Privacy Managed Services are designed to act as a true extension of your internal team. Whether you need help during a staffing transition, an upcoming audit, or just need more hands-on deck to meet new regulatory expectations, we’re here to help you stay compliant, reduce risk, and keep your privacy program running smoothly.
To learn more about how we can support your organization:
