Using digital methods to transfer data in the healthcare industry has come with challenges, including cyber intrusions and data breaches. Complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations when sharing patient information through emails can alleviate these challenges. Here are different healthcare practices that should use a HIPAA compliant email system:
Why Use Compliant Emails?
HIPAA regulations require a medical organization to use encrypted emails to protect patient health information (PHI). This facilitates the secure transfer of data among patients, healthcare providers, and health insurance companies beyond the organization’s firewall. A HIPAA compliant email allows the integration of other compliant platforms, including telehealth, to manage patient information. This integration provides an avenue to safely send information and facilitate reliable communication.
Using secure emailing systems to communicate and send PHI reduces the risk of unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of this information. Tools, including SSL protocol, help protect personal information such as credit card numbers when transmitted between multiple email servers. These safety measures help secure the personally identifiable information of patients and healthcare providers in a medical organization.
What Healthcare Practices Need Compliant Emails
Healthcare providers should use secure emails to protect transferred PHI from being seen by anyone other than the intended recipient. Various healthcare practices can make use of these emails in different ways. Here are some of the healthcare services that need to use secure emails.
Private Medical Practices
To prevent data loss, private medical practices need to use compliant emails to share patient data among different email servers for other healthcare providers, patients, and health insurance companies. Medical information has personal information that should stay between patients and their doctors. Using a HIPAA secured email allows private medical practices to store data in cloud-based systems that offer secure and reliable storage.
Dental and Orthodontic Offices
Dental and orthodontic offices can use secure email services to incorporate fast push emails when scheduling appointments. With the fast push email function for encrypted emails, booking and scheduling can facilitate an easier transition between patient appointments. This could help save time and improve patient satisfaction for these practices.
Therapy and Counseling Practices
Some platforms offer mobile sync options that allow you to document patient contact information, calendars, tasks, and notes from therapy and counseling sessions. This feature may assist therapists and counselors in having real-time updates regarding their patients’ sessions. Synchronizing your calendars with services such as Microsoft Outlook could help you keep track of appointments, letting you prepare for patient sessions beforehand.
Home Health and Hospice Care Providers
In-home and hospice care providers use email service systems with smartphone and tablet support to facilitate proper time management. Email services’ compatibility with different mobile devices offers the convenience of sending confidential information without additional software and applications. This feature allows you to communicate with patients and get real time feedback.
Reliable Communication With HIPAA Compliant Emails
Small to medium-sized medical practices can utilize HIPAA complaint emails to enhance doctor-patient confidentiality. Whether you require end-to-end encryption or optimized scheduling, having a secure email system could help you meet your practice’s needs. Contact a HIPAA compliant email provider to start your journey to achieving secure communication.
