Note: this article is the second in a five-part article series on healthcare website development and medical website design. View Part 1 | View Part 3 | View Part 4 | View Part 5 Table of Contents Secure & HIPAA Compliant Patient Portals Patient Portal Design Considerations Selecting Your Patient Portal Vendors FAQ Key Takeaways HIPAA-compliant patient portals are secure online platforms that allow patients to access their personal health information, communicate with care providers, and manage their healthcare needs. A HIPAA-compliant patient portal is designed to meet the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mandates strict rules for the privacy and security of patients' protected health information (PHI). A HIPAA-compliant portal uses advanced security measures, such as encryption and authentication, to protect PHI from unauthorized access and ensure patient confidentiality and patient-centered care. Patients can access their medical records, test results, and treatment plans, and communicate with their healthcare professionals in a convenient and secure way, which can help improve patient engagement and outcomes. When dealing with HIPAA-compliant websites in today's environment, it is important to consider the benefits of patient portal design so that patients can better manage their health. Patient portals are secure places where your patients can log in, interact with their healthcare providers, and access their health information. A portal that protects medical data can drastically increase the efficiency of many healthcare organizations, as it allows your patients the option of scheduling, changing, or canceling their own appointments. They also add a layer of quality to your overall website design solution. Secure & HIPAA-Compliant Patient Portals The chief consideration in patient portal design, whether or not you're using practice management software, is security. If your portals are not secure, you run the risk of failing to maintain HIPAA compliance, which can put your whole practice in jeopardy. Clarity has a standard way in which we maintain patient portals and HIPAA compliance with HIPAA-compliant messaging, hosting, medical record storage, and EHR transfers. Role-Based Authentication First, to ensure that users only have access to the health information and medical records they need, we set up a role-based authentication system within the patient portal. Companies we work with already have an existing role-based authentication or intranet system in place, so we can work with that while implementing other web applications that make it easy for users to access the electronic systems using their standard personal health information. The health information is pulled via an LDAP protocol, which can sort which information a patient (or practitioner) should have access to, and what roles and rights they have. A specific medical record shouldn't be accessed by just anyone, even if they have privileges to access other medical records. HIPAA Hosting Next is the HIPAA hosting environment. HIPAA hosting providers offer a secure and compliant hosting environment that meets HIPAA's physical, technical, and administrative safeguards for the protection of ePHI. HIPAA hosting providers must undergo regular audits and assessments to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. By using a HIPAA hosting provider, healthcare organizations can ensure the security and confidentiality of ePHI, while also minimizing the risk of data breaches and non-compliance penalties. Depending on the level of HIPAA PHI contained, stored, entered, passed through, or edited on the site, the requirements can be very different. Basically, there's the security of PHI information in transit (patient registration), at rest (storing files or in a database utilizing HIPAA-compliant database software), and being edited (tracked). Clarity has been designing and working with hosting providers for 15 years. Working with Clarity We understand the requirements and have finally found some very affordable ways to get your sites onto a secure and robust HIPAA environment without breaking the bank. Give us a call and we can help not only design and build your portal and practice management software, but we know where to provide the industry's best and most affordable HIPAA hosting solution. Our design focused on patient satisfaction and engagement as well. Patient Portal Design Considerations Remember: while your patient portal can speed up many important processes and make the patient much happier, it should never replace the personal attention of a healthcare practitioner. There are many patient portal development considerations, but the main question to keep in mind is: what does the patient want or what do I have to do to meet Medicare-Medicaid requirements? You will need a patient portal that is easy to navigate, attractive, displays mobile-friendly design solutions, and is engaging and efficient, all while providing the patient "dutiful access to their personal healthcare information." Your patient should always be aware of who they can contact via HIPAA-compliant messaging if they have further questions, and how to contact them. Remember: While your patient portal can speed up many important processes and make the patient much happier, it should never replace the personal attention of a healthcare practitioner. Selecting Your HIPAA Patient Portal Vendors As you look into patient portal vendors, consider not just the development aspects but also the “human” aspects of a company's role in your patient portal design. A good patient portal vendor or developer will be able to intuit your patient's unique needs and provide a design to suit them. Clarity tailor-made all of their websites to meet the unique needs of each of our clients. contact a Clarity representative today if you're interested in patient portal design and HIPAA-compliant development. To learn more about medical website development, feel free to read our other articles on the subject: Part 1 - HIPAA Websites Design and Development Part 3 - A HIPAA Compliance Checklist Part 4 - Medical Website Security and HIPAA Audits Part 5 - Medical Website Marketing Healthcare Providers Work with Clarity When your medical practice or hospital needs to follow HIPAA regulations, you're going to need guidance. HIPAA compliance isn't something you can do halfway. Patient portal development has to be taken seriously. Clarity Can Make It HappenClarity offers a complimentary discovery session, a no-pressure call where we'll help you create a plan moving forward. You don't have to work with us, but we'd still like to get you off on the right foot. Get in touch with our HIPAA experts today!Get a No-Pressure Demo FAQ What is a HIPAA-compliant patient portal?A HIPAA-compliant patient portal is a secure online platform that allows healthcare organizations to exchange confidential lab results and other detailed reports with their clients. The portal meets the standards of the HIPAA, which regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI). A patient portal following HIPAA compliance is more trusted and can increase patient engagement. By using a HIPAA-compliant patient portal, medical providers can communicate with clients securely, schedule appointments, share medical records, and provide telehealth services. The patient portal ensures that sensitive patient data is encrypted, access to health information is restricted to authorized personnel, and data breaches are reported promptly to the relevant authorities. Are patient portals HIPAA compliant?Patient portals and HIPAA compliance can be achieved if they meet the standards set forth by the HIPAA. To be compliant, HIPAA-complaint portals must ensure that all protected health information (PHI) is secure and accessible only by authorized personnel. This includes implementing measures such as encryption, access controls, and auditing. It must remain safe while letting patients easily access their lab results and other medical information. The patient-doctor portal must also have policies and procedures in place to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patient PHI. Portals that don't meet HIPAA compliance can put patient data at risk of unauthorized access, potentially leading to privacy breaches and legal consequences. How do I make sure my website is HIPAA compliant?To ensure your website is HIPAA compliant, you need to take several steps. Firstly, you need to ensure that any protected health information (PHI) you collect on your website is encrypted and transmitted securely. You should also implement access restrictions to ensure that only authorized personnel can access the PHI. Secondly, you need to create policies and procedures for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of PHI on your website. This includes conducting regular risk assessments, providing HIPAA training to employees, and implementing an incident response plan in case of a data breach. Finally, you need to ensure that any third-party service providers you use for your website also meet HIPAA requirements. Is Google Forms HIPAA compliant?Google Forms is not inherently HIPAA compliant, as it does not meet the requirements for the secure handling of protected health information (PHI) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This is because Google Forms is not designed specifically to comply with HIPAA regulations and does not have the necessary safeguards, such as encryption and access controls, to ensure the confidentiality and security of PHI. However, it is possible to use Google Forms in a HIPAA-compliant manner by implementing additional security measures for digital intake forms, such as using a secure VPN connection and obtaining a signed Business Associates Agreement (BAA) with Google. What are the benefits of using a HIPAA-compliant patient portal?Using a secure patient portal offers several benefits, including improved communication between healthcare providers and their clients, increased efficiency in scheduling appointments and sharing healthcare records, and the ability to provide telehealth services. HIPAA-compliant portals can also enhance patient engagement and satisfaction by giving patients more control over their health information and allowing them to communicate securely with their providers. Also, a patient portal can help care providers comply with HIPAA rules and avoid potential legal and financial consequences of non-compliance. Can you integrate a HIPAA-compliant patient portal with an EHR system?Yes, it is possible to integrate a HIPAA-compliant portal with an electronic health records (EHR) system. In fact, many EHR systems come with built-in patient portal functionality or have the option to integrate with third-party patient portals that follow the HIPAA Security Rule and other regulations. By integrating a patient portal with an EHR system, healthcare providers can streamline communication with patients, improve efficiency in scheduling appointments and sharing medical records, and enhance patient engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, a patient portal that is integrated with an EHR system can help healthcare providers maintain HIPAA compliance and protect patient privacy and confidentiality.Still have questions? Chat with us on the bottom right corner of your screen #NotARobot Related PostsThe 8 Best HIPAA-Compliant Web Hosting Choices in 2023Telemedicine App Development: Costs, Features, and PitfallsHIPAA-Compliant Portals for Doctors and Patients Additional ArticlesMedical Website Design Pro Tips 2023Five Factors for HIPAA Security in eCommerce 2023Doctor Requests for HIPAA-Compliant PortalsCustomer Registration and Account Creation on HIPAA SitesDoctor, Pharmacist, & Patient Appointment Creation on Your Site Written by Stephen BeerStephen Beer is a Content Writer at Clarity Ventures and has written about various tech industries for nearly a decade.He is determined to demystify HIPAA, integration, and eCommerce with easy-to-read, easy-to-understand articles to help businesses make the best decisions.