ABPA strengthened its email security! “Since the inception of HIPAA Security, ABPA has required employees to encrypt emails containing protected health information (PHI),” says Pat Kuchenreuther, Director of Compliance.  The current encryption program, while effective, was a bit cumbersome for senders and sometimes receivers. With the passage of HIPAA HITECH, ABPA decided to strengthen its email security and at the same time make the flow of emails easier for everybody.

 

ABPA has implemented an e-mail encryption gateway that will secure email communications.   By encrypting data at the gateway, the program ensures data is protected from unauthorized access in transit over the public Internet and at rest on the email server. According to Kuchenreuther, “This program complies with our client and regulatory mandates for information security and privacy. Best of all, it will make the flow of emails much easier on both ends.”

 

The program is easy to use. The sender simply designates an email as confidential and the system automatically encrypts the email. Receivers will get an email notification that a confidential communication has been sent. This email will contain a link to the secure web email program where, after a couple of set up questions, the email will appear and the receiver may respond from that site. Due to the confidential nature of emails with PHI, they will be accessible to the receiver on this site for only 30 days and cannot be saved on the receiver's email - they can be printed, however. Attachments can be downloaded and saved on the receiver's end. 

 

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