Medical professionals must use HIPAA compliant emails to enhance ECT therapy by improving patient education, streamlining scheduling and enhancing follow-up care.
What is ECT?
“Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments,” explains the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Furthermore, “ECT involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. It is typically administered by a team of trained medical professionals that includes a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.”
The APA also suggests that patients and their families “should be provided with sufficient information to fully understand the procedure and the potential benefits, risks, and side effects” of ECT.
However, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that providers safeguard protected health information (PHI). So, providers must use HIPAA compliant emails to ensure open communication between patients and their families during ECT treatment.
Benefits of HIPAA compliant emails in ECT therapy
Personalized patient support
HIPAA compliant emailing platforms, like Paubox, allow providers to offer personalized ECT support, checking patients' progress.
For example, providers can securely communicate with patients about possible side effects, so they can get the appropriate support throughout their treatment.
Improved patient education and engagement
HIPAA compliant emails can include educational materials, like ETC therapy brochures and treatment information. So, providers can improve patient understanding and engagement while protecting patient privacy.
Streamlined appointment scheduling
Patients usually receive ECT “two or three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments, depending on the severity of symptoms and how quickly the symptoms respond to the treatment.”
So, providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to facilitate appointment scheduling and send automated appointment reminders. These emails can help providers reduce no-shows so patients receive their treatments as planned.
Securely sharing medical records
HIPAA compliant emails allow providers to share patient medical records and treatment plans so all team members can collaborate during ECT therapy.
For example, a psychiatrist can securely email a patient's progress notes to their primary care physician so they can make well-informed treatment decisions.
Enhanced follow-up care
After ECT sessions, providers can use HIPAA compliant emails for follow-up care. Specifically, providers can email patients, check on health outcomes, and schedule follow-up appointments. These emails can help patients receive continuous, comprehensive care throughout their treatment journey.
How to implement HIPAA compliant emails
1. Use encrypted email services: Providers must use a HIPAA compliant platform that offers encryption to protect PHI during transit and at rest. Specifically, encryption encodes emails, making them unreadable to unauthorized individuals.
2. Obtain patient consent: Providers must obtain informed patient consent before sending HIPAA compliant emails.
3. Limit PHI in emails: Secure emails must adhere to HIPAA’s minimum necessary standard, limiting the included PHI to only what is necessary for the intended purpose.
4. Implement access controls: Provider organizations must restrict PHI access to authorized staff only.
5. Educate staff: Provider organizations must regularly train staff on HIPAA regulations and maintaining email security.
FAQs
What rights do patients with mental health conditions have under HIPAA?
They have the right to access their mental health records, request corrections, receive a report of disclosures, and request restrictions on specific uses and disclosures.
What is PHI?
Protected health information (PHI) includes any information about health status, healthcare provision, or payment for healthcare that can identify an individual.
What measures can providers take to ensure HIPAA compliance?
Providers can implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards (like using Paubox), conduct regular risk assessments, and provide staff training to maintain HIPAA compliance.
