Did you know that HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was signed into law in 1996? HIPAA allows for the safe storage and transfer of medical information over mobile devices, and as more BYOD, or bring your own device, programs are implemented, the need for HIPAA secure SMS, or short message service, is growing. Fortunately, there are several benefits of utilizing HIPAA messaging, as this is an efficient way to protect the privacy of your patients.
1. Secure. Mobile healthcare applications are safe to use when they are compliant with HIPAA. This is because Title II of HIPAA establishes national standards for healthcare transactions that are completed electronically, which means HIPAA healthcare apps cannot operate unless they follow these strict guidelines. HIPAA secure SMS also encrypts all information sent between mobile devices until it reaches the recipient, which means if this information were to ever be intercepted, it could not be decrypted or read by a third party.
2. Economical. Utilizing HIPAA messaging is a cost-effective option. This is not only because it allows you and your staff to quickly and easily transfer information, but also because the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH Act, provides $27 billion in financial incentives for the use of electronic health records. This means that by using HIPAA secure SMS, you will not break the bank.
3. Many options available. Not all mobile healthcare applications are the same. For example, some apps strictly provide safe communication, while others connect data systems for efficient information storage and retrieval. Fortunately, there are more than 1,100 software programs to choose from, so it is possible to find one that fits all your needs.
With the increased prevalence of BYOD programs comes the need for HIPAA secure SMS. HIPAA messaging is not only economical and secure, but there are many software options available, as well. By utilizing HIPAA messaging, you will be able to run your medical office more efficiently.