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That’s a critical thing to understand about patient communication tools, but what’s even more critical is realizing that you must have an established plan in place before you begin using any of these communication methods.ĭepending on who you ask, the question of whether or not texting patients is secure enough has different answers. Not all secure messaging is done via text.īut HIPAA-compliant texting is a type of secure messaging. Not all fingers are thumbs, but the thumb is a finger. This leads to an important distinction between HIPAA-compliant texting applications and broader clinical communication systems with secure messaging features:
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They can opt for streamlined, texting applications such as OhMD or MedTunnel, or more robust patient communication tools like TigerConnect or TelmedIQ. Practices have some options when it comes to finding the most secure system for communicating with patients. There you have it: that’s basically what HIPAA-compliant texting apps are. Now imagine those tools used a secure, encrypted network to send, receive, and store messages, and included auditing controls to meet HIPAA Security Rule requirements. Think of popular smartphone apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype.
#Hipaa text messaging program software#
You need secure software apps to let you text patients safely. Simply typing up a message on your iPhone and sending it directly to patients is not a secure way to do it, though-and nor is it HIPAA-compliant. HIPAA-compliant texting is a form of secure messaging that allows doctors to send and receive protected health information (PHI) to patients easily via secure SMS texts. Establish your HIPAA texting policy before you hit send