HIPAA Compliant Text Messages: The Rules to Follow in Healthcare Firms
If you are a healthcare provider or work in the medical field, you know that HIPAA compliance is of utmost importance. One of the ways that HIPAA is often violated is through the use of text messages. In this blog post, we will discuss the rules you need to follow to ensure HIPAA compliant texting solutions
Get Permission
Before you start sending any patient information via text message, you need to get permission from the patient first. This means you must have a signed HIPAA release form on file for each patient who has permitted you to send them text messages. Without this signed release form, you are not allowed to send any PHI via text message.
This is important because if unauthorized individuals gain access to your text messages, they could potentially view or steal PHI.
Control Access
Once you have obtained permission from the patient, you must ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the text messages. This means that you should not be sharing your login information with anyone and that you should have some password protection on your phone. It would help if you never left your phone unattended or unlocked in public.
One of the best ways to control access to text messages is to use multi-factor authentication. In addition to a password, you also need a code from a separate device to log into your account. This makes it much more difficult for someone to hack into your account and read your text messages.
Keep Accurate Record of Messages
Another essential rule to follow is to keep accurate records of all the text messages you send and receive. This means keeping a log of each message’s date, time, sender, recipient, and content. Additionally, you should ensure that these logs are securely stored and that only authorized individuals can access them.
Erase Data in Case of Loss
If your phone is ever lost or stolen, you need to be able to erase all of the Data on it. This includes any text messages that may contain PHI. To do this, you should have remote wiping software installed on your phone. This way, if your phone is ever lost or stolen, you can erase all the Data remotely. By following these rules, you can ensure that your text messages are HIPAA compliant.
However, it is essential to remember that text messaging is not the most secure way to send PHI. If possible, always use a more secure method such as encrypted email.