Aside from the operational challenges of running a medical practice, you have to overcome various obstacles to succeed. In this regard, cyber threats have become a major concern. According to data, between 2020 and 2022, the healthcare sector incurred losses of roughly $25 billion due to cyber attacks.
Therefore, ensuring healthcare communication meets HIPAA regulations is vital. However, considering the stringent HIPAA telephone rules, this is easier said than done. That's why many medical facilities and practitioners now opt to have an alternate phone number.
However the benefits of having an alternate phone number go beyond ensuring efficient communication and aligning with HIPAA general provisions. It also fortifies the security of sensitive patient data, fostering a compliant and trustworthy healthcare communication environment.
So, keep reading to learn more about navigating phone call rules and why an alternate phone number is your best ally.
Table of Contents
1. The Various HIPPAA Phone Call Rules
2. Risks of Non-HIPAA Compliant VoIP Systems
3. What Is a HIPAA-Compliant Phone Number?
4. Why Opt for a Secondary Phone Number?
5. Understanding Virtual Numbers
6. Why Prioritize a HIPAA-Compliant Phone Service?
7. Securing Your Practice With HIPAA-Compliant VoIP
The Various HIPPAA Phone Call Rules
Understandably, you may be wondering where to get an alternate phone number to safeguard PHI. However, for you to know what to look for, it's important that you understand HIPAA phone call rules in detail.
Some of the key considerations under the HIPAA privacy rule include whether:
- PHI is shared between covered entities with a direct patient-treatment relationship
- PHI is communicated to another covered entity without a direct patient-treatment relationship
- Members of a covered entity's workforce exchange PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations
- Members of a covered entity's workforce share PHI for non-operational purposes
- PHI is exchanged between a covered entity and a business associate
- A covered entity communicates PHI with a patient or receives PHI from a patient
As you know, disclosing information to family is allowed if it's in the best interest. However, there are certain restrictions you must adhere to. One such restriction is refraining from sharing unrelated past medical problems.
Therefore, to comply with HIPAA general provisions, you need to establish procedures for HIPAA compliant phone calls. This should start with verifying caller identity before disclosing information about a patient's well-being.
Risks of Non-HIPAA Compliant VoIP Systems
Beyond compliance, not using a HIPAA compliant Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system comes with risks. In addition to costing money, these risks can ruin your reputation, leading to the loss of clients.
Therefore, it's vital that you understand the potential dangers of not having a HIPAA compliant phone system:
- Financial Penalties: You may face non-compliance fines ranging from $100 to $1.5 million depending on the severity
- Legal Liability: Patients have the right to take legal action against you if their data is breached
- Trust Erosion and Reputation Damage: HIPAA violations will tarnish your practice's reputation, leading to patient attrition
- Technical Vulnerabilities: Non-compliant VoIP systems are susceptible to cybersecurity threats, risking data breaches and technical disruptions, further compromising the integrity and security of patient information
What Is a HIPAA-Compliant Phone Number?
Now that you understand HIPAA phone call rules and the risks a non-compliant phone system presents, it's time to learn what exactly a HIPPA-compliant phone number is. In simple terms, it is a phone number that aligns with the HIPAA privacy rule's administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. Moreover, it's intricately tied to your communication system, allowing your facility to enjoy the benefits.
Typically, these compliant numbers are associated with secondary, virtual phone lines, ensuring the secure handling of Protected Health Information (PHI).
Why Opt for a Secondary Phone Number?
Efficient communication is at the heart of swift day-to-day healthcare operations. However, it comes with the risk of unintentional disclosure of sensitive patient information through the primary line.
That's where a secondary phone number comes into play. It allows you to keep day-to-day communication from the primary number. This strategic measure helps you avoid unintentional disclosures of sensitive patient information through the primary line.
When implementing HIPAA-compliant communications via a secondary phone number, the use of a virtual number is common. Virtual numbers facilitate secure voice, messaging, and video functionalities. As a result, you'll have a reliable means to interact with patients while minimizing risks to the confidentiality and security of PHI.
Understanding Virtual Numbers
Traditionally, phone numbers are tied to specific devices or locations. However, with a virtual number, that's not the case; it's linked to an online communication account. Therefore, beyond a numeric identifier, it often comprises a username paired with a password or another form of user authentication.
Typically, virtual numbers are linked to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service or Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) platform. This allows them to establish connections via the Internet.
Crucially, for a virtual number to be deemed HIPAA-compliant, the associated service or platform must be meticulously configured to uphold HIPAA regulations. This involves safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic Protected Health Information (e-PHI).
Why Prioritize a HIPAA-Compliant Phone Service?
Even without the risk of non-compliance fines, safeguarding patient information is crucial. This is why a HIPAA-compliant phone service is not just a convenience but a necessity for healthcare practices. It ensures secure communication, mitigates the risk of PHI breaches, and aligns with the stringent regulations set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
As you prepare to fortify your practice's commitment to patient privacy and regulatory compliance, here are some of the reasons you'll want to choose a HIPAA-compliant phone service:
Enhance Security Measures for Your Practice and Patients
In an ideal world, your only focus should be delivering top-notch healthcare services. However, beyond your team accidentally exposing PHI, hackers are actively targeting medical facilities. As such, if your communication system is not fully HIPAA compliant, you'll be exposed to potential data breaches.
Malicious entities can exploit security vulnerabilities in VoIP phones, printers, and video decoders to breach corporate networks to gain access to PHI. Beyond the immediate impact, these breaches could tarnish your practice's reputation and incur substantial penalties for non-compliance, potentially exceeding $1 million.
Therefore, choosing a HIPAA-compliant phone service is not merely a precautionary measure; it's a decisive step toward fortifying your practice against evolving cybersecurity threats and ensuring the trust and well-being of your patients.
Centralized Communications for Enhanced Security
It's not uncommon for healthcare providers to use multiple communication platforms across various devices. However, this practice is risky as it increases your exposure to data breaches. Instead, choose an integrated, HIPAA-compliant VoIP solution.
Such systems ensure that all communications are channeled through a centralized and securely encrypted platform. By consolidating emails, telehealth appointments, and other communication within a unified platform, your practice enhances security and simplifies administrative workflows.
Furthermore, collaboration tools like videoconferencing and desktop sharing become seamlessly integrated, maintaining HIPAA compliance throughout.
But that's not all. A well-integrated phone system facilitates efficient connections with other crucial systems, such as electronic health records (EHR) and patient portal solutions. As a result, this centralized approach fortifies your security. Furthermore, it also minimizes the likelihood of misplacing or accidentally deleting patient data or essential messages.
With this, you'll have a more resilient, efficient, and secure IT system. This lays the foundation for robust healthcare communication within the stringent framework of HIPAA regulations.
Embrace Telehealth Safely and Securely
Between 2024 and 2034, the global telemedicine market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. This will see it rise from $17.83 billion to $57 billion a year. Such growth presents great opportunities for facilities that embrace telehealth.
However, integrating telehealth services requires caution to avoid inadvertent HIPAA violations. While patients might be familiar with popular video call platforms like Skype, most consumer versions lack HIPAA compliance.
Instead, adopt a HIPAA-compliant VoIP service to offer telehealth consultations. Doing so enables you to expand the reach of your healthcare services. But more importantly, it safeguards patient confidentiality and maintains compliance with stringent HIPAA regulations.
Maintain Compliance With HIPAA Regulations
Achieving and maintaining HIPAA compliance is a multifaceted process. It involves policy and procedure updates, rigorous physical security audits, continuous monitoring, and employee training. However, not many HIPAA VoIP systems were originally designed with HIPAA regulations in consideration.
Therefore, it's not just about finding VoIP phone service but one that adheres to HIPAA rules. So, it's crucial to choose a vendor equipped to meet these stringent requirements. Doing so will ensure that your practice operates within the legal framework of HIPAA.
Furthermore, you'll mitigate the risk of regulatory violations and safeguard your patients' sensitive health information.
Enable Seamless Remote Work
With increasing reliance on technology, remote work in healthcare is on the rise. However, establishing secure communications poses a unique challenge. Luckily, you can overcome such issues with a HIPAA-compliant phone service, particularly one based in the cloud.
Such solutions have features that enhance communication without compromising HIPAA guidelines. For starters, they enable secure remote access to the phone system. This allows your physicians to answer work calls or transfer them to colleagues through a secure connection while working outside the office.
In addition, you can connect your smartphone to the phone service. With this feature, your team can use the office phone number as their outbound caller ID. So, while they can use personal devices to communicate with patients, personal numbers will remain private.
Building a Robust Brand in Private Practice
Undoubtedly, the quality of medical services you offer influences your success. However, other factors such as branding also play a key role. That's why it's important to pay attention to how clients engage with the business throughout various interactions.
From the calls to emails you receive, each point of contact with clients contributes to the overall brand experience. Therefore, as a group practice owner committed to a cohesive brand, it is imperative to embed brand elements consistently in all communications. This entails implementing a unified HIPAA-compliant communication system.
Furthermore, accompany it with:
- Standardized therapist phone greetings
- Adopting a uniform email signature template
- Establishing clear expectations and training protocols for staff to maintain a consistent
By addressing these elements, you will deliver a recognizable and appealing brand experience for clients at every touchpoint.
Ensuring Peace of Mind
When it comes to HIPPA compliance, there's no escaping. It's either you are adequately prepared or constantly worried that an issue will arise. If it's the latter, you'll not only be facing increased exposure but also reduced productivity. This is because your team may be worried about violating rules, thus affecting their capacity to perform their duties.
Rather than subject your team and facility to such risks, prioritize having a HIPAA-compliant communication solution that delivers peace of mind. This will allow your team to concentrate on client care without concerns about communication reliability or ethical and legal compliance.
Preserving Crucial Therapist-Client Boundaries
One of the precursors to top-notch healthcare services is efficient therapist-to-client communication. However, it's not just about making therapists accessible but also reinforcing essential boundaries.
For instance, you should limit between-session communication. You can achieve this by specifying availability and adhering to agreed-upon response windows. However, this may not be easy when providers use their personal numbers to communicate with patients. This is because patients can easily reach them even when they're not on call.
Instead, leverage a HIPAA phone service that enables your team to use the facility's number on their mobile phones. With such an approach you'll give them full control of patient communication. The ability to choose when to be available for calls will help doctors re-establish boundaries with patients.
Beyond compliance requirements, these systems are crucial for business owners. It allows you to create structure for communication with staff and clients. This then enhances work-life balance as therapists can easily step away from work when needed.
Securing Your Practice With HIPAA-Compliant VoIP
Undoubtedly, avoiding non-compliance fines is a great motivator for having an alternate phone number. But beyond the legal aspect, you should make it a top priority as it greatly influences branding, and it's the ethical thing to do.
But keep in mind choosing a reputable provider is integral. At iPlum, that's what we do. We help medical facilities such as yours achieve secure and HIPAA-compliant phone communication with reliable Voice over Internet Protocol services.
Sign up today to get a HIPAA-ready alternate phone number and enjoy secure communication via phone and text.
