Forms can be a great way to collect information regarding a psychiatric advance directive because they can securely gather medical and personal information.
For a form to be considered HIPAA compliant, it must offer secure transmission of protected health information (PHI) between doctors and patients. Sending psychiatric advance directives through forms, like Paubox’s HIPAA compliant forms, can help secure that communication while upholding the patient's mental preferences.
The benefit behind HIPAA compliant forms
When HIPAA compliant forms are designed correctly they provide patients with clear insight into patient rights to PHI. Transparency lends itself to ensuring patients provide informed consent to the procedures, transactions, or treatments they agree to.
Organizations should send forms through a HIPAA compliant email because, according to one journal article, “While there are many ways for criminals to access systems with ePHI, one way at which they are particularly proficient is phishing, or the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from a reputable company to obtain personal information.”
Why use HIPAA compliant forms to handle psychiatric advance directives?
Psychiatric directives include a patient's most sensitive and personal information. From the patient's mental health history to crisis management plans, this information is extremely valuable to threat actors.
When using HIPAA compliant forms to share directives, providers can create a comprehensive and secure electronic document for patients to access and complete at their convenience. The document itself remains secure when sent through email and can be easily accessed at any time.
FAQs
What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is designed to protect the privacy and security of individual health information.
Can PHI be sent through unsecured means?
The Privacy Rule allows organizations to send information through unsecured means, however, organizations must fully inform patients of the risk to their PHI.
Why is HIPAA compliant email beneficial?
HIPAA compliant email allows for the transmission of PHI in a way that prevents unauthorized access.
Kirsten Peremore
