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Posts Tagged ‘securetext’

Press Release: How To Text and Remain HIPAA-compliant

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

WESTWOOD, MA, March 15, 2016 — LuxSci® announces the recent launch of SecureText, a unique solution to concerns about HIPAA-compliant text messaging, and an important step to safeguard and secure electronic patient health information (ePHI).

Communicating through text message is a convenience to which we have grown rapidly accustomed. However, sending unsecured texts places healthcare providers and patients at risk in several ways: (1) ePHI-laden messages are not always encrypted during transmission or storage; (2) anyone with access to a recipient’s phone or stored messages can view ePHI-laden messages; (3) and some ePHI-laden text messages travel through organizations which lack required HIPAA Business Associate Agreements. Additionally, since healthcare providers are required to obtain and maintain consent from patients for texting – providers must ensure that patients are adequately educated on the risks associated with sending ePHI via text and presented with secure alternatives to insecure texting.

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Tags: ePHI, hipaa, press release, securetext, text message
Posted in LuxSci Insider, LuxSci Library: HIPAA
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To Text or Not To Text: Texting under HIPAA

Monday, February 29th, 2016

Sending text messages under HIPAA

Sometimes, technology just sneaks up on you. Patients want to speak with you – stat – about lab results or to schedule, be reminded of, and confirm an appointment without an interminable wait in the phone queue. Patients want text messaging — which has quickly become the new normal for everyday communication — to be used routinely for their healthcare needs, as well. You hesitate, concerned not only about the appropriateness of text messaging, but the legal ramifications. These are legitimate concerns.

HIPAA unambiguously states that sending health information in a text message is a straight up violation, unless it is to a patient and a proper consent form has been signed (as discussed below). This provision applies to messages as simple as appointment reminders. If you engage in such a practice and do not document context, consideration, and patient consent, you will be in willful neglect and quite possibly assessed up to $50,000 for each text message.

Why is text messaging such a hot-button issue to HIPAA enforcers? Under what conditions can health information be sent by way of regular text messages? The good news is that you can secure text messages rather simply and not jeopardize your patients’ privacy or your healthcare practice. Please read on.

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Tags: common carrier, consent, hipaa, hipaa-compliant text, imessage, secure text, securechat, securetext, text messaging
Posted in LuxSci Library: HIPAA, Popular Posts
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