HIPAA Compliant Print and Mail Solutions for the Healthcare Industry

HIPAA compliant print and mail solutions for the healthcare industry have a lot of benefits. This type of service is important to the healthcare industry, which is often trusted with confidential patient information.

Healthcare providers need to adhere to strict regulations. Those who do not comply with them can face lawsuits and hefty fines. However, a printing and mailing service that follows HIPAA guidelines can make the process easier and less costly.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was introduced in 1996. It was enacted to ensure that patient information is protected and shared in a secure manner. Protected health information includes a person's name, social security number, date of birth, medical record numbers, health insurance information, and other data that may identify an individual.

PHI is also protected by encryption standards. This makes rules about emailing protected information complicated. Several popular email systems have built-in protection. Using encryption is a great way to protect patient data.

When mailing PHI, healthcare providers must use first class postal mail. These mailings provide proof of delivery and give the recipient more control over the process.

For some sensitive mailings, such as a monthly doctor's report, sending documents by certified mail is recommended. Certified mail has a signature of the intended recipient and verifies that the document was received.

With a service like FlexStream, healthcare organizations can choose to send emails, print out hard copies, or deliver via secure link. They can also determine which mailings require a physical delivery.