HIPAA compliant emails support patient autonomy, giving patients the information, control, and privacy they need.
What is patient autonomy?
A scientific article on autonomy and shared decision-making defines patient autonomy as “the right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without experiencing undue influence from their healthcare providers.”
It also includes understanding medical information, considering alternatives, and patient preferences. Moreover, patient autonomy embraces the right to privacy and confidentiality.
HIPAA and patient autonomy
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that covered entities, including healthcare providers, safeguard protected health information (PHI). HIPAA guidelines give patients control over their PHI, particularly how it's communicated.
HIPAA’s Privacy Rule explains that patients have the right to request their health information in their chosen format. So, if a patient requests their health information via email, their healthcare provider must accommodate this request.
HIPAA compliant emails and patient autonomy
Informed consent
Providers must obtain explicit patient authorization before sending their PHI via email. Providers should also inform patients how their information will be used and who it will be shared with.
Furthermore, patients have the right to access their PHI via email and request corrections if their information is inaccurate. It reinforces their control over their medical records and treatment plans.
Secure communication
Providers must use HIPAA compliant email solutions with encryption, access controls, and other security measures to protect patient data. Only authorized individuals can access the PHI, supporting the patient's right to privacy and helping providers fulfill their legal obligations.
Patient-centered communication
HIPAA compliant emails can be tailored to the patient’s needs, like their literacy level, language, and cultural background. These emails promote patient-centered communication, improving patient access to information while respecting their autonomy.
Opt-in and opt-out options
Patient autonomy is also reflected in how patients can control when they receive HIPAA compliant emails. Moreover, these emails allow patients to opt in or out of communications, giving them control over their engagement with their healthcare providers.
Trust and empower patients
Adhering to HIPAA standards helps providers protect patient privacy, promoting a trusting patient-provider relationship. HIPAA compliant emails improve patient trust and empower patients to make decisions when they know their information is handled with care.
Patient preferences
Providers must give patients the choice of how they wish to receive communication. For example, providers can ask patients if they prefer emails or texts for appointment reminders, test results, or general inquiries during their first encounter. Respecting these preferences helps providers honor patient autonomy.
Go deeper: Patient preference and HIPAA compliant emails or texts
FAQs
Can providers use regular emails for patient communication?
No, regular email services, like Gmail and Outlook, are not secure. Instead, providers must use a HIPAA compliant emailing platform, like Paubox, to safeguard patients' protected health information (PHI).
What makes an email HIPAA compliant?
An email is HIPAA compliant when it meets the HIPAA requirements for protecting sensitive patient information. Therapists must use a HIPAA compliant emailing platform with encryption, access controls, and audit trails to safeguard patients' mental health information and mitigate data breaches.
Additionally, the platform must sign a business associate agreement (BAA) with the healthcare entity to ensure HIPAA compliance.
What are patient rights under HIPAA?
Patients have the right to access, request corrections, and obtain a copy of their protected health information (PHI). Patients can also request an accounting of PHI disclosures, file complaints, receive electronic copies, opt out of certain uses, and must be notified of PHI breaches.
