| The internet has created a new business model | | | | Client information gathered by [Clinic or |
| for the smaller medical practice, specialty clinic and | | | | Organization's Name] is protected by Federal Law. |
| medical service (e.g. dermatologist, plastic surgeon, | | | | If this communication contains any client |
| physical therapist, psychologist, et. al). More and | | | | information, including information which would |
| more, patients are looking to communicate with | | | | identify a client, you are prohibited from |
| their healthcare providers as they do in their | | | | redisclosing it to any person or organization in any |
| personal and business lives – via email. | | | | manner, and you are required to maintain it as |
| Email as a communication solution for the smaller | | | | confidential. Failure to do so is punishable by civil |
| clinic can be a time-saving resource. It can replace | | | | and criminal penalties. If such information has |
| the many phone calls and postal mailings, adding a | | | | reached you in error, please contact [Clinic or |
| financial benefit to the smaller clinic. | | | | Organization's Name] With the advent of phishing, |
| Does email eliminate the office visit? No, nothing | | | | malware, and spyware, the unintended recipient |
| can replace the personal face-to-face office visit, | | | | could possibly spread a patients PHI like a virus; |
| but email can be an additional tool clinicians can | | | | using or selling data to any number of damaging |
| implement to streamline their practice. | | | | sites. |
| Some healthcare practitioners do however feel | | | | Protecting a patient's PHI is an ingrained concept |
| that emailing their patients equates to working for | | | | within the medical profession. Laws and |
| free, but some clinics have already adopted | | | | government mandates are take this notion a step |
| charging for email consultations. | | | | further, medical facilities not compliant to |
| At some practices, patients pay a flat rate from | | | | protecting their patient’s PHI face stiff |
| $100 to several hundred dollars per year for this | | | | penalties under HIPAA. PHI includes and is not |
| type of service. Harvard professor of medicine | | | | limited to: |
| Dr. Daniel Z. Sands, a proponent to a digital clinic, | | | | - Patient's address, phone number |
| stated "I think it’s reasonable to assume | | | | - Treating Hospital/Clinic number assigned the |
| that if lawyers and accountants charge for time, | | | | patient |
| then physicians should too. (1)" | | | | - Patient's date of birth/ SSN |
| Sustainability of Health Information Technology is | | | | - Patients legal next of kin/guardian and their |
| also on the government's radar. As part of the | | | | telephone number |
| President's mandate to move the medical field | | | | - Patient's insurance information (pre-certification/ |
| towards a digital clinical setting within the next ten | | | | DSHS/ Medicare) |
| years (2). The National Coordinator for Health IT, | | | | - Anticipated Admission date and time |
| Dr. David Brailer, noted the value-added benefit of | | | | While there are some drawbacks to email, |
| investing in Healthcare IT: | | | | patients want the option of emailing their doctor, |
| Information technology supports treatment | | | | pharmacist, therapist or clinic. "People are often |
| choices for consumers and enables better and | | | | more comfortable talking to a computer than |
| more cost-effective care... Health IT not only adds | | | | they are to a doctor," said Dr. Delbanco, a |
| value to the way people lead their lives, but it | | | | professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical |
| gets more out of our investment in healthcare | | | | School and the lead author of an article on |
| overall. (3) | | | | doctors and e-mail in the New England Journal of |
| It is possible for clinics to shift towards a digital | | | | Medicine (6). |
| medical office while remaining financially solid. | | | | Dealing with HIPAA compliance issues can often |
| Rights management software tools have become | | | | be frustrating to the small clinical practice. SBRM |
| a reality for the small and medium business office | | | | solutions bridge the gap between staying current |
| (4). Small Business Rights Management (SBRM) | | | | with healthcare industry regulations and keeping a |
| reflects a shift Rights Management software | | | | small physician practice open. Patient/client |
| tools. | | | | information, private communiqué regarding |
| SBRM solutions provide clinics and practices of a | | | | diagnosis/treatment, and medical billing can stay |
| smaller scale an equal level of user rights | | | | discreet, only the intended recipient will see this |
| management and encryption previously available | | | | information. |
| to larger medical organizations (e.g. state hospitals, | | | | With SBRM solutions; clinics don't have to worry |
| large research facilities, university medical | | | | that their email content breaks the Hippocratic |
| networks, etc.). | | | | Oath's creed of confidentiality by revealing |
| With any medical advance, the side affects of a | | | | patient's PHI. Healthcare providers can remain both |
| solution or cure, must also be considered. While | | | | respectful and compliant under HIPAA regarding |
| email is beneficial time-wise and financially, there | | | | the patient privacy. |
| are also cons to using this tool – many | | | | End Notes: |
| HIPAA related. According to the Health Privacy | | | | 1.) Dr. Daniel Z. Sands as quoted in Liz Kowalczyk's |
| Project's 2005 study, 70% of Americans are | | | | article "Is E-Mailing the Future of Doctor-Patient |
| concerned that personal health information (PHI) | | | | Relations?" The Boston Globe, D2, April 27, 2004, |
| could be disclosed as a result of weak data | | | | Lexis Nexus – |
| security (5) | | | | 2.) United States Department of Health and |
| Currently, healthcare organizations are required to | | | | Human Services, "Secretary Leavitt Takes New |
| provide a disclosure statement when | | | | Steps to Advance Health IT," Press Release on |
| communication is sent to their patients. A sample | | | | HHS website, June 6, 2005, |
| of a healthcare professional’s email | | | | 3. |
| disclosure statement may read like this: | | | | |