Protect your business communications and ensure HIPAA compliance with Axxess Networks‘ encrypted text messaging solutions. People often underestimate how vulnerable the information they share can be when using digital platforms. In the age of digital media, our data is always at risk of being stolen or used in a cyber-attack. This is particularly concerning in the healthcare industry, where professionals constantly share delicate patient information through their communication systems.
As healthcare workers, we know you already know all about HIPAA (which probably keeps you up at night ). While keeping patient-doctor confidentiality has always been a challenge, it becomes increasingly difficult when using digital tools to communicate. This is because when using digital tools, we become vulnerable to the threat of cyber-attack! And this isn’t your fault at all. However, there’s one bulletproof way to make sure you are keeping your information safe: Using a purpose-built HIPAA compliant chat exclusively for these communications.
Why Having a HIPAA Compliant Chat Matters:
As a healthcare professional, you are constantly juggling patient information while collaborating with colleagues through your digital platforms. You must maintain the same high standard of patient privacy you have while communicating in person while performing all these tasks. However, traditional chat apps and communication platforms don’t always have the capability to apply high-security measures while using them.
Therefore, you cannot settle for using just any platform in the healthcare industry. It needs to be a HIPPA-compliant one. What does that mean? It means it’s a platform with security technology built into its software to ensure all information you share remains confidential, protecting your patients and your practice.
How does a HIPAA Compliant Chat Achieve this Level of Security?
Let’s go deep into the technology responsible for keeping your information safe. What exactly does a HIPAA compliant chat entail? For a HIPAA compliant chat platform, it must have robust security measures to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI (protected health information) shared during communication. Some of these measures include:
- End-to-End Encryption: This ensures that the content of chat messages is encrypted from sender to recipient, rendering them unreadable to unauthorized parties. It protects protected health information (PHI) from interception and unauthorized access during transmission.
- Access Control and Authentication: compliant chat systems use strong access restrictions to ensure that only authorized persons can access the site and view PHI. This contains unique user IDs, strong passwords, and two-factor authentication to confirm users’ identities.
- Secure Data Storage: HIPAA compliant platforms employ secure methods of storing data to protect PHI. This includes encryption of stored data, regular backups, and measures to prevent unauthorized access to the database or server where the data is stored.
- Secure File Transfer: The ability to securely share files within the chat platform is necessary for healthcare professionals. These platforms ensure that file transfers are encrypted and secure, providing additional protection for sensitive medical documents and images.
Simply put, a HIPAA compliant chat has more robust security measures than your regular communication platform.
What are the Risks of Using a Non-Compliant Platform?
Overall, the healthcare industry is subject to strict regulations, such as the star of today, HIPAA. Because HIPAA mandates the protection of patient information, using a non-compliant chat platform means failing to meet these regulatory requirements. This can lead to penalties, fines, and legal consequences for healthcare providers. Some other risks include:
- Data Breaches and Loss: Non-compliant chat platforms may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cyber attackers, resulting in data breaches or loss of sensitive information.
- Compromised Patient Care: When non-compliant chat platforms lack proper security measures, it can negatively affect patient care. Communication channels may be disrupted, and the timely exchange of critical patient information among healthcare professionals can be compromised. This can lead to delays, miscommunication, and potential errors in providing necessary care to patients.
- Reputational Damage: Data breaches or unauthorized disclosures of patient information due to non-compliant chat platforms can damage the reputation of healthcare organizations.
- Breach Notification Lawsuits: If a data breach occurs due to a non-compliant chat platform, affected individuals may have grounds to file lawsuits against the healthcare organization.
A HIPAA breach is a severe violation of compliance that can trigger severe penalties and financial costs. The best thing you can do is to select the right tools/applications to ensure that you are protecting your facility against threats.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Healthcare Facility?
Now that you understand the importance of HIPAA compliance let’s find the perfect chat platform to safeguard your communications. You need a platform that offers end-to-end encryption, providing an extra layer of security to shield your messages from prying eyes. Ensure the HIPAA compliant chat provides secure access controls, allowing you to manage user permissions and limit access to sensitive information.
User-friendliness is another crucial factor to consider. You need a platform that integrates seamlessly into your workflow, making communication effortless and efficient. Look for features like message archiving and search functionalities, allowing you to retrieve past conversations when needed.
Check out Axxess Networks’ encrypted text messaging solutions!
Our HIPAA compliant chat platform is designed for healthcare professionals, ensuring secure and confidential communication. With Axxess Networks, you can protect your business communications and focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional patient care.
We’ve built a platform that’s HIPPA compliant and extremely secure and includes all of the features healthcare professionals need to take their communications to the next level.
Ready to Be Bulletproof with Our HIPAA Compliant Chat?
Contact us today to learn more about our secure messaging platform. Get to know our HIPAA compliant chat and start protecting your business communications.
