HIPAA Compliance and Healthcare Research
Medical research aims to investigate health concerns methodically to develop general knowledge. This pursuit is protected by the HIPAA privacy law, which outlines the context when protected health information (PHI) can be used or revealed by covered organizations for research. Healthcare organizations can use HIPAA compliant email systems to transmit PHI for research. Find out how your organization can balance HIPAA compliance and healthcare research pursuits:
Significance of HIPAA Compliance in Healthcare Research
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides guidelines for healthcare entities regarding the storage of sensitive information. The Act protects patients’ PHI, including medical records, from public disclosure or disclosure between professionals without consent.
When transferring PHI between patients and doctors or doctors and doctors, medical practitioners often use HIPAA compliant emails. These safely encrypt the patient’s information during transmission, preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing PHI.
Understanding HIPAA compliance during research helps maintain patient confidence and legal liability. Researchers are expected to protect PHI and observe the integrity of their studies. Failure to comply with these regulations can damage reputations and attract fines. Researchers must observe protocols for information use and disclosure, which include getting consent from involved entities and explaining how the information will be used.
HIPAA Compliance Rules for Research
For researchers, HIPAA compliance elements include privacy rules, security rules, non-compliance notification rules, and enforcement rules. Privacy rules guide how covered entities handle and safeguard PHI and offer patients rights concerning their health information. Security rules demonstrate requirements for the security of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
These rules permit covered organizations to use or reveal PHI when individuals grant informed consent for their medical history to be used in research. Some waivers allow covered entities to use or disclose PHI without consent if a waiver has been obtained. Waivers are granted by the National Institute of Health’s review board or the HIPAA Privacy Board. When PHI has been de-identified, meaning it no longer contains personally identifiable information, it can always be used in research.
Approach to HIPAA Compliance
Establishing extensive data management regulations within a healthcare or research organization can help them comply with HIPAA standards effectively. Organizations should direct the mode of collecting, storing, and sharing PHI during research. Training research practitioners on HIPAA compliance helps all parties understand obligations for protecting PHI.
Security systems tailored for healthcare research, such as management and audit logs that help identify breaches can promote compliance. Send private information to patients or other professionals with secure links through a password-protected email account with backup and data control. Risk assessment helps providers secure their entity against data breaches and potential risks. Email systems need advanced security protocols to prevent spam and protect emails against hackers. A Business Associate Agreement is necessary for researchers. Without the BAA legal contract, shared emails will not comply with HIPAA.
Consult HIPAA Compliant Email Providers
Promote email safety and HIPAA compliance by partnering with reliable email service providers. Compliant email providers should offer support and training to confirm that sensitive information is secure. Consult a HIPAA email-compliant email provider today to secure PHI during research.
