Harbor Path is a pharmaceutical company that manages patient copay programs and patient assistance programs to help individuals affordably receive their medication. The company is based out of North Carolina and serves 24 states, providing life-saving medicine for various conditions and overdose prevention.
We sat down to chat with Sarah Pohlig, the owner and developer at Chatham Fullstack. One of Pohlig’s clients is Harbor Path, and she works as their technology officer. Pohlig has worked with Harbor Path for four years, helping them improve their technology and communication systems.
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Company snapshot
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- Founded in 2012
- Virtual operations
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Industry
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Non-profit healthcare |
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Use case
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Securely communicate with providers |
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Goals
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- HIPAA compliant communication
- Email encryption
- Easy implementation
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Used solution
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Favorite features
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- Customer support
- HIPAA compliant
- Cost-effective
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The Challenge
When Pohlig began working with Harbor Path, one of her first tasks was figuring out communication. She knew the company worked with pharmaceutical clients and fulfilled requests from hospitals. As a covered entity, Harbor Path would need to abide by HIPAA regulations and encrypt any electronic messages that contain protected health information (PHI).
At first, Pohlig’s instinct was to have Harbor Path not include PHI in emails, “I was like, ‘I think it is going to be easier for us to implement an email service that is not HIPAA compliant...’ I thought [those services] were really expensive,” Pohlig said.
Yet not including PHI created confusion; clinics often needed additional information or clarification about their requests, which delayed the processing time and made it difficult to omit PHI. Pohlig decided to do a bit of research to see if she could find a HIPAA compliant email that wouldn’t “cost the earth.”
The solution
Pohlig explained that she wasn’t very familiar with HIPAA compliant services, and found Paubox simply through her own research and reviews she found online. It stood out for its solid ratings and affordable price point. While Pohlig looked at several options, she was impressed with what Paubox offered and found the price reasonable.
Once she decided it was the one, she shared it with her developers who were quickly able to implement the technology. The developers set it up on her account, and the process was smooth.
Pohlig explained that Harbor Path’s staff used to field a multitude of calls from clinics and doctors requesting updates on requests. Now, practices apply online and receive an automated, encrypted email response confirming the request and verifying the information provided.
These emails are sent with Paubox Email API and can safely include any PHI needed, reducing confusion and uncertainty.
The result
“People are way happier,” said Pohlig, referring to both the doctors and clinics she works with, as well as the Harbor Path team.
The biggest advantage? Saving time.
Now, Harbor Path doesn’t need to have multiple people available to answer phone calls for simple questions–anything, including PHI, can be discussed online. The company could save money on costs by freeing up more time.
Pohlig also appreciated the customer support, which quickly alleviated any concerns and answered questions Harbor Path had when they initially joined Paubox.
For the providers Harbor Path worked with, switching to Paubox also gave them a smoother experience; doctors can check on the status of their request and see all of the information they need without worrying about HIPAA compliance. The process is seamless, helping practitioners save their valuable time, too.
While Paubox offers analytics and more, Pohlig appreciated that it was easy to get started. “The interface is nice and friendly and not intimidatingly confusing,” she explained.
Now, Harbor Path can communicate with providers securely and efficiently. As the company grows, they have time to do the work they care about–like helping individuals receive the medication they need at a price they can afford.
Learn more about Paubox's Email API today.
