Today, the internet has interconnected the world unlike ever before. You can sit halfway across the world and attend a conference or even consult a specialist doctor through the net in real-time.
While the internet has made everything convenient, the question still remains – does convenience come at the cost of data privacy and confidentiality of information?
This becomes a matter of concern when transmitting sensitive or privileged information such as medical reports or legal documents on the net.
The average cost of a data breach is a hefty $3.86 million, according to a 2020 report by IBM. Needless to say, data security trumps as a priority for any business that operates and handles sensitive information. This is why choosing the right HIPAA-compliant healthcare chat API is essential for online healthcare providers.
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What Is HIPAA Compliance?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is legislation governing the safety standards of highly sensitive patient data. The Act requires businesses and companies that work in the healthcare industry with access to electronically protected health information (ePHI) to take prescribed measures to ensure that transmission and use of such sensitive health data are HIPAA compliant.
HIPAA compliance is an important factor when choosing a healthcare chat app API to implement in your healthcare platform. A HIPAA compliant chat needs to meet the highest standards of data privacy and protection as prescribed by the HIPAA. Communication is essential for Patient satisfaction and safety and sensitive patient information being protected is of the highest priority. Some communications apps provide a bridge between the family and care team using a one-way HIPAA compliant platform that allows for photos and video and allow the care team to communicate with the family so they know what’s going on throughout the treatment and any changes that occur.
What Makes a Chat App HIPAA-Compliant?
Unauthorized access and sharing are among the top concerns for users who divulge privileged information on the internet.
The live chat SDK platform must ensure that there is a dedicated administrative panel to allow or restrict certain users from sending or receiving ePHI, allowing messages to have lifespans so that they are automatically corrupted or deleted to prevent mishandling the privileged files beyond the specified time.
HIPAA compliant texting apps allow users to send ePHI on the platform only after approval by the admins. A robust HIPAA-compliant data protection solution extends protection to all structured and unstructured data, including calls, emails, text messages. When a healthcare provider wants to send a recipient a certain health report, a notification is sent to the recipient a message, which the recipient would have to confirm before accessing.
Why Choose a HIPAA-Compliant Chat App?
Following HIPAA-defined guidelines has become an important benchmark for the online healthcare industry. Here’s why you need to choose a healthcare app API that is HIPAA compliant:
1. Simplified Diagnosis and Treatment
A chat app brings all aspects of a healthcare service onto one platform. It helps doctors, patients, and other medical professionals communicate seamlessly through a chat app. This reduces the time to consult and diagnose a patient.
2. Remote-Friendly
A HIPAA-compliant healthcare app API reduces the dependence on in-facility visits. It connects skilled medical professionals to patients from remote corners of the country. Users can consult with doctors using chat, audio, and video calls.
3. Quick Resolutions
Patients usually need medical attention in the nick of time. Offline consultations have a long resolution cycle which overlooks the urgency of the matter. A healthcare chat API significantly reduces response times during consultations. It also quickens deliveries of important medical reports like prescriptions and lab test diagnoses.
4. Mitigate Human Errors
Patient care to recovery can be a tricky process for medical professionals to go through with. Oftentimes, errors like prescription miscommunication and incorrect follow-up times may occur.
A chat app can reduce human errors and be used to communicate the right information. A healthcare messaging app can also ensure unhindered communication through push notifications.
Wrapping It Up
HIPAA compliance is the gold standard of the online healthcare space. Medical professionals are switching over to healthcare messaging APIs that ensure the complete security of critical patient information. On the other hand, users are more likely to trust providers that offer unparalleled defense to their confidential medical data.
Non-compliance with HIPAA can cost dearly to businesses. As we progress towards remote healthcare options, safeguarding medical records is now crucial for telemedicine practitioners.Thus, you should consider opting for a health chat app with a HIPAA-compliant system for patients to consult with adept medical professionals and doctors on a single integrated chat platform.
