HIPAA Compliant Messaging App
What is a HIPAA Compliant Messaging App?
A HIPAA compliant messaging app is an integral part of a secure messaging solution that can help healthcare organizations and other covered entities comply with the technical requirements of the HIPAA Security Rule.
Having a similar interface and providing the same functionality as a commercially available messaging app, a HIPAA compliant messaging app has additional safeguards in place to protect the integrity of Protected Health Information (PHI) and prevent unauthorized disclosure.
Messaging apps for HIPAA compliant texting can be downloaded onto any desktop computer or mobile device, making them the ideal replacement for unsecure channels of communication such as pagers, SMS and email – particularly in a healthcare environment that encourages a BYOD policy.
What´s Different about Messaging Apps for HIPAA Compliant Texting?
From a user point of view, there are few differences between messaging apps for HIPAA compliant texting and commercially available messaging apps. Once logged in, users can send text messages, attach images and documents, or engage in multiparty conversations.
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The differences that users will notice are that messages are automatically deleted after a predetermined period of time, and an automatic logoff function exists so that the user will have to log back into the app when they next want to use it. These functions are in place to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of PHI when a desktop computer or mobile device is left unattended.
From an administrator point of view, activity on a HIPAA compliant messaging app is monitored to ensure compliance with HIPAA and organizational usage policies. Audit reports assist with the preparation of risk assessments, while administrators have the ability to retract any message sent to a HIPAA compliant messaging app, or PIN-lock the app if the device onto which it has been installed is lost or stolen.
The Benefits of Secure Messaging Apps
Due to the security features integrated into messaging apps for HIPAA compliant texting there are a number of benefits associated with implementing a secure messaging solution that takes advantage of a HIPAA compliant messaging app:
• The monitoring of user activity ensures message accountability. Together with automatically generated delivery notifications and read receipts, this helps to eliminate phone tag.
• Medical professionals can receive PHI “on the go” with a HIPAA compliant messaging app – a particular time-saving benefit to on-call physicians and community nurses.
• When integrated into an EMR, the task of updating patient notes can be shared between medical professionals, while physicians can better prioritize their EMR alerts and workflows.
• Messaging apps for HIPAA compliant texting require no capital expenditure and are cost-effective when compared to other – often unsecure – channels of communication.
Find Out More about Secure Texting
To find out more about secure texting, messaging apps for HIPAA compliant texting and the benefits obtainable through a HIPAA compliant messaging app, you are invited to download and read our “HIPAA Compliance Guide”.
In addition to providing valuable information about the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, the HIPAA Compliance Guide suggests solutions for healthcare organizations and other covered entities to protect the integrity of PHI and prevent unauthorized disclosure.
