As a leading web design company in Scottsdale, Arizona, our team at Prominent Web Design, has developed a number of healthcare related, medical websites. As such, our healthcare industry clients have asked us to implement HIPAA compliant online forms within their websites.
What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law, passed in 1996, whose main purpose was to protect the private health information of patients and to make sure that healthcare providers, insurance companies and related third parties, do not disclose such information to others, without patient consent.
HIPAA also required that all healthcare providers, insurance companies and related third parties, adhere to strict security measures when transmitting any health information electronically.
Thus, online forms, whether used for patient registration, appointment scheduling, or information gathering, can potentially involve the collection, storage and transmission of protected health information (PHI), making compliance a necessity.
Why Should Online Medical Forms be HIPAA Compliant?
Protecting Patient Privacy
It should be obvious that the top priority of HIPAA is the safeguarding of patient privacy. Thus, when a medical website collects any PHI via its online forms, those forms must be secured in such as way as to satisfy HIPAA compliance.
Building Trust
With respect to cultivating patient trust, medical providers must assure their patients that their personal health information is protected online. The utilization of HIPAA compliant, online forms lets their website visitors know that patient privacy is top priority. This, in turn, results in an enhanced level of trust between healthcare providers and their patients.
Avoiding Legal Repercussions of Non-Compliance
When a healthcare provider fails to comply with HIPAA regulations, this can have catastrophic legal and financial ramifications. I can also damage a medical provider’s reputation. Thus, by using HIPAA compliant website forms, the risk from potential lawsuits and/or penalties can be mitigated.
Strengthening Data Security
On of the primary focuses on HIPAA compliance typically involves the investment in more secure technologies and protocols. This, in turn, leads to a greater improvement in overall data security. Not surprisingly, this can not only protect PHI, but also other sensitive information handled by healthcare providers.
Key Features of HIPAA Compliant Online Forms
To ensure your online forms are compliant with HIPAA regulations, several essential features must be present in the design.
Secure Data Transmission
To secure data transmission of PHI, use of encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS, is crucial. Such measures can ensure that patient information is protected against unauthorized access.
Access Controls
Access to submitted online form data must be limited only to those persons explicitly authorized. This can be achieved through the implementation of user authentication and role-based access (e.g. Admin).
Data Storage
The storage of any and all health related information that has been gathered through online forms must be done so in a way that meets or exceeds HIPAA security requirements.
Business Associate Agreements
When third-party services are involved in the storage, transfer and/or processing of PHI, business associate contractual agreements are a necessity in order to clearly define their responsibilities in adhering to HIPAA compliance.
Patient Rights Notices
HIPAA requires that all website visitors be informed about their rights relating to their health information, which encompasses how it will be used and stored. This type of transparency enhances patient confidence in a medical practice.
As the healthcare industry continues to implement digital advancements, ensuring that medical websites have HIPAA compliant online forms is no longer optional, it is a necessity.
Of course, you should not assume that all online forms on healthcare related websites are HIPAA compliant. Therefore, it is up to you to first confirm that any online form you are considering using within a medical website, is indeed HIPAA compliant.
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