Faxing is a fast and convenient way to share documents and information, but specific industries have regulatory and compliance concerns. Maintaining data privacy is critical in medical fields, where confidentiality is mandatory. Discover everything you need to know about compliant faxing to ensure that every transmission sent and received complies with applicable regulations.

Know the Difference

Understanding HIPAA and HITECH compliant faxing means knowing the difference between these regulations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was enacted to establish the privacy of people's health records. At the same time, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act promotes adopting information technology to protect private health records. 

Patient Privacy Matters

Both HIPPA and HITECH exist to protect the health data of patients based through proper management of sensitive records. Through encryption, privacy is maintained during data transmission to avoid unwanted leaks. Additionally, these acts make it easier and more convenient for patients to access their health records and for medical professionals to share information when it matters most.

Keep Transmission Security in Mind

Digital solutions offer improved levels of transmission security with strong data encryption to maintain industry best practices and avoid costly penalties. As a result, it is critical to verify your faxing solutions encrypt private patient data during transmission and at rest during storage to ensure continued integrity. Considering security every step of the way is the only way to maintain regulatory compliance and protect sensitive patient information per HITECH.

Tracking Fax Transmissions

Another feature to look for in faxing solutions is tracking transmittals to determine their status. Without complete tracking, medical facilities cannot maintain HIPAA compliance. Tracking is another critical component to think about when faxing patient data so everyone knows the status of the transmittal.

Outstanding Document Management

Integrated systems that work seamlessly are imperative to maintain proper digital document management and avoid gaps in document control. Automated tracking ensures the organization records all the faxes sent and received. Also, the right faxing system helps management control disclosures through access controls to reduce the risk of sending faxes to physical machines, which can mean unauthorized eyes could view the transmittal.

Quality Encryption Software Makes a Difference

Maintaining compliance when using various computers, networks, and systems becomes nearly impossible and could lead to costly breaches. Investing in quality encryption software is the most efficient way to ensure HIPAA and HITECH compliance during every phase of the faxing process. Additionally, the right software provides essential data to prove regulatory compliance and protect the facility from regulatory problems.

Do the Research

While faxing software offers encryption, not all options are equal, and some fail to offer the level of encryption necessary at every level to maintain compliance. Finding the right faxing solution for medical facilities requires extensive research and attention to detail to ensure complete encryption and security all the time. Anything less can lead to steep penalties, compromise patient trust, and negatively impact brand reputation.

Understanding the meaning of HIPPA and HITECH compliance is the first step toward maintaining proper patient data security levels. The second step is finding and implementing high-quality faxing software that offers the necessary encryption at every level to ensure compliance. Contact an industry professional today to learn more about faxing software and how it can help your organization protect sensitive patient data.