HIPAA Compliant Chat

Are you leaving your practice at risk of violating HIPAA rules by using chat applications without a business associate agreement, robust encryption methods, or strict access controls? These are just a few requirements a healthcare chat application needs to be HIPAA compliant.

What Features Does a Chat App Need to be HIPAA Compliant?

A HIPAA compliant chat application needs to have the following features:

Business Associate Agreement – A contract that states the covered entity (i.e., you) and business associates (e.g., vendor or supplier) will appropriately safeguard the PHI it receives or creates on behalf of the covered entity.
Strong Encryption – All contents of the chat must have end-to-end encryption to ensure only the sender and the recipient can decrypt and read messages.
Strict Employee Access Controls – HIPAA compliant chat messaging solutions must have access controls and secure logins. This means password-protected logins, strong authentication methods, and preventing access by unauthorized staff members within your healthcare organization.
Readily Accessible Data – All chat data, including patient information in chat transcripts, must be available and easy to access, especially if you are subject to a HIPAA audit.
Robust Security Measures – Features like timed sign-out, recipient authentication, and precise access management are all crucial security measures for a HIPAA compliant chat platform.

Many popular live chat applications are not HIPAA compliant, including SMS messaging, Skype, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and Zoom. While it is possible to take extra steps to ensure some of these chat applications are HIPAA compliant, the easiest option is to utilize a powerful alternative designed with compliance in mind.

Introducing Cytek Chat

Cytek Chat is a secure chat application that makes it easy to send and receive messages and collaborate with other physicians on patient cases in real time.

If you are a covered entity (CE), such as a medical practice or hospital, it is up to you to do your due diligence in finding and using a HIPAA compliant chat application and administrative system to safeguard your PHI.

HIPAA Compliance Made Easy With Cytek

Cytek Chat is an all-in-one, HIPAA compliant chat software that makes it easy for healthcare providers to send, receive, and collaborate on a patient’s case safely and securely. If you’re ready to learn more about Cytek Chat, contact us today, and let’s schedule a consultation.

A risk assessment helps reveal areas where your organization’s protected health information (PHI) could be at risk. Take our free online assessment and start protecting your practice today.

Getting your employees HIPAA certified is quick and easy with our self-paced, online training.