Patient accountability promotes positive health outcomes, and HIPAA compliant emails can help providers support this process.
What is patient accountability?
Patient accountability is the personal responsibility a patient has towards engaging in their treatment plan through adherence, monitoring results, and maintaining contact with service providers.
The concept extends beyond clinical appointments since consistent follow-through and introspection are needed for long-term success.
A JMIR publication on how human support can enhance adherence to eHealth interventions introduces ‘supportive accountability.’ In this model, patients adhere to their care plans due to their accountability to a supportive figure, like a trusted provider.
According to this model, patients are more likely to stay committed to their goals when they perceive their provider as “trustworthy, benevolent, and having expertise.”
The study also states, “Accountability requires social presence—the presence of another human being. This presence can be in person, by telephone, or by email, and may be either synchronous or asynchronous.”
“Although it is true that automated systems that monitor and encourage adherence, such as email reminders, can improve adherence to eHealth interventions, human support enhances adherence to a significantly greater degree.”
However, in the US, these emails must adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. HIPAA compliant email solutions, like Paubox, uphold these requirements, maintaining patients’ data privacy and security.
Using HIPAA compliant emails to drive accountability
Providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to promote accountability among patients. These emails can be tailored to encourage patients to reflect on their progress and stay committed to their health goals.
Regular check-ins
Providers can send HIPAA compliant emails to patients between appointments, prompting them to consider their progress since their last session. A therapist could ask a patient to evaluate their stress management techniques, while a primary care provider can encourage a diabetic patient to report on their glucose levels.
Goal-setting and reminders
Personalized emails can outline short-term and long-term goals for patients. If a patient is on a weight-loss program, their provider can send weekly HIPAA compliant emails asking about their physical activity levels or requesting their dietary logs.
Recognizing milestones
Providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to acknowledge patient milestones, like achieving a blood pressure goal or completing a physical therapy regimen.
The abovementioned study notes, “The effect of accountability may be moderated by patient motivation. The more intrinsically motivated patients are, the less support they likely require. The process of support is also mediated by the communications medium (e.g., telephone, text messaging, email).”
Providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to gauge patient motivation levels and adjust their approach accordingly.
Personalization
The research shows that personalized communication improves patient engagement and treatment adherence. HIPAA compliant emails facilitate this personalization without compromising patient privacy.
For example, therapists can use HIPAA compliant emails to send personalized resources, like mindfulness resources, motivating patients to continue prescribed therapies at home.
Additionally, physical therapists can securely send videos demonstrating exercises, giving patients direct access to these resources and making it easier for them to stay accountable.
FAQs
Can providers email attachments containing PHI?
Yes, providers can use a HIPAA compliant platform, like Paubox, that encrypts email attachments containing protected health information (PHI), so the information remains secure during transmission and at rest.
What an email platform HIPAA compliant?
HIPAA compliant platforms should offer encryption, secure PHI storage, access controls, audit trails, and mechanisms for obtaining patient consent.
Can HIPAA compliant emails include links to external resources?
Yes, providers can include links to reputable external resources like healthcare websites, patient education materials, or wellness resources.
