Supporting public health surveillance through HIPAA compliant email

Public health surveillance monitors and controls disease outbreaks, tracks health trends, and improves community health. While these efforts can improve healthcare delivery by identifying health risks, they can also expose organizations to potential instances of unauthorized access to PHI if transmission is not handled correctly.  

How public health surveillance and population health affects healthcare organizations

Public health surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to provide a wealth of health services to the public. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rely on data from a wide range of sources including healthcare organizations of all kinds. 

A study published in the Annual Review of Public Health provided, “Among all functions of public health surveillance, early identification and accurate forecasting of the timing, intensity, and distribution of emerging infectious diseases have been of high priority.”

Population health serves a similar function in using information from these sources to improve the health outcomes of specific populations by addressing factors like socioeconomic status, and preventative health measures. 

Healthcare organizations are tasked with acting as a primary source of health data. Through their direct connection to the population the CDC and other organizations seek to protect healthcare organizations of all sizes and are also responsible for the implementation of public health measures like vaccinations, screenings, etc. These organizations also assist in the identification of outbreaks of diseases amongst populations the CDC might not otherwise gain awareness of. 

How does HIPAA compliant email support public health surveillance

Email is a reliable method of communication used by over 4 billion users making it the logical choice for primary healthcare communications. Its convenience also makes it an easy way to share multiple attachments and detailed reports with public health authorities and other stakeholders involved in disease monitoring, prevention, and response. 

The use of HIPAA compliant email platforms like Paubox that incorporate encryption, access control features, and reliable audit trails make sure that the highly sensitive information shared during these exchanges remains secure. Organizations can also collaborate on public health activities with ease as multiple organizations can be included in an email chain so that information is distributed quickly and efficiently.

FAQs

What is HIPAA? 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a law that protects the privacy and security of individuals' health information. 

What is the HITECH Act? 

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.

Is PHI shared in public health surveillance part of a patient's request for disclosure?

PHI shared in public health surveillance is not considered part of a patient’s request for disclosure under HIPAA.