6 Key Features to Consider for HIPAA Compliant Web Design

 

Web Design and Development for healthcare organizations is unique as it not only requires exclusive design but should also be HIPAA compliant. As a physician, you're without doubt conversant in HIPAA compliance laws and taking steps to shield your patients’ personal health info. However, because the health care industry ventures into the digital world of health care websites, it's necessary that you simply keep all aspects of your practice HIPAA compliant. 

 

You'll be thinking, “Isn’t that my web designers job?” the solution is affirmative, but you'd be stunned at what percentage of web design companies are uneducated on not solely the details but the existence of the HIPAA laws. Therefore, it's imperative that your practice ensures the HIPAA compliance of your website to shield yourself from penalties. There are 2 ways to go with it, operating with a HIPAA Compliant Web Designer or guaranteeing your website’s security through a HIPAA Compliance Checklist.

 

If you are looking for HIPAA compliant web design Service for your healthcare website, make sure that the development company considers the six most important factors:

 

 1. Collecting Information: Will your medical website share patient details like records and appointments online, or it simply gather information related to patients inquiring about services? Collecting patient details via an online contact form is not only easy but also carries less security concerns. Your medical website should follow HIPAA standards if you share patient records online or have secure messaging with patients online.

 

 

2. SSL Protection: SSL protection is necessary for every medical website as it encrypts patient information. In some websites SSL is activated only on few pages which cause problems can further down the track if pages or content are moved around, sometimes disrupting even the confidential information. Having an entire website SSL protected from the beginning is more beneficial in the long run.

 

3. Emailing without Encryption: Never email private patient information over normal email connection. It is important to keep email communication with your patients secure and HIPAA compliant.

 

4. Storage of Information: Storing patient information is a critical task and often require separate external database that can store important information in a secure and encrypted form. Make sure that you take proper backup of the data and they are secured as well.

 

5. Website Security Testing: Your medical website and the server where it is hosted have to pass through rigorous tests on a regular basis to be called HIPAA compliant. It’s good to start the process during the development stage of the website so that it passes the test or if there are areas at risk that need to be improved. It is also important that the server where your website is hosted is aware of HIPAA. According to the guidelines, if any security issue arises it will take around 48 hours to resolve it. 

 

6. Mind the Details: Make sure that your medical website has all the policies that HIPAA requires like HIPAA Privacy Policy, etc. written in a place. Passwords should be regularly changed for medical websites and only a certain personnel should have login access to private patient information.

 

Tags: HIPPA Compliant Checklist, HIPPA Compliant Web Design Service, Medical Website and Apps

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