What is the best way for clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities in Hesperia to communicate with their business partners and patients?
According to a research study published by market intelligence firm Infinite Convergence Solutions, medical professionals are increasingly using mobile messaging applications for work-related communications. Many of these mobile apps offer secure features; this is a trend that emerged in the wake of the NSA spying scandal uncovered by former government contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently living in Russia under a self-exiled status.
Cyber Security Using Messaging Applications in Hesperia
Most commercial messaging apps in use these days are not compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The fact that medical professionals are choosing to use these apps is probably related to their popularity among patients. Unfortunately, until these apps are approved by HIPAA regulators, they cannot be considered as being compliant.
Although there are a couple of software developers who have created HIPAA-compliant direct messaging applications, these solutions are mostly used internally at large facilities such as hospitals. It is very likely that healthcare administrators will soon make these specialty apps available to patients; for the time being, however, the best course of action for covered entities and associates in Hesperia is to use a HIPAA compliant email hosting solution.
HIPAA Compliance in Hesperia with Network Security
Covered entities and associates that exchange patient information outside of HIPAA compliant email solutions are failing to observe proper Health Information Exchange rules and standards, and this is taking place at many American hospitals that encourage patients to use popular messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Naturally, hospital administrators do not purposely set out to break HIPAA laws; they start off by providing general information, but it doesn’t take long before patient data starts being exchanged via messaging apps.
Clinics and medical offices in Hesperia need to remember that HIPAA compliant email solutions are the only approved means of electronic communications that include electronic health records and patient data. Dentists and doctors who use WhatsApp to share x-rays, prescriptions or other healthcare matters pertaining to their clients are not in compliance with HIPAA. There are methods to handle WhatsApp messages through a HIPAA compliant email server; however, such methods are cumbersome.