Page 9 - 2021 Risk Reduction Series - Communication Part Two

SVMIC Risk Reduction Series: Communication

Because encryption is a safe harbor for notification, it

makes sense to encrypt PHI that is transmitted by email. Be
warned that the use of most, if not all, free email services for

communicating ePHI is not HIPAA-compliant.
2

Texting ePHI

Text messaging is commonplace today among physicians and

other healthcare professionals. The ability to transmit images
and information related to patient care instantly without the

delay and burden caused by “phone tag” would seem to make
texting the perfect tool for busy healthcare providers; but,

unfortunately, the laws have not caught up with technology.
Although short message service (SMS) or instant messaging

(IM) texting is not expressly prohibited under HIPAA, for a
practitioner to utilize texting, he or she must first put into

2 AMA Guidelines for Patient-Physician Electronic Mail H-478-997; https:\\www.ama-assn.org

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