Hiver enables healthcare organizations to adhere to HIPAA

Hiver, the world’s first multi-channel helpdesk for teams on Google Workspace, enables healthcare organizations to adhere to HIPAA — demonstrating its commitment to organization-wide data security and privacy. 

With its robust features and stringent security measures, Hiver empowers healthcare organizations to securely handle Protected Health Information (PHI) while adhering to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards.

What is HIPAA?

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The federal law in the United States protects the privacy and security of individuals’ health information. 

The law establishes rules for how healthcare providers and other entities that handle health information must safeguard that information. The goal is to ensure that sensitive information, such as medical records, is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals or used inappropriately. HIPAA also gives individuals the right to access and control their own health information.

How is Hiver facilitating HIPAA compliance?

Hiver offers several features and functionalities that facilitate HIPAA compliance for healthcare organizations. Similarly, the integration of data mining in healthcare can transform vast amounts of health data into actionable insights, further enhancing patient care and operational efficiency within HIPAA-compliant environments. Here’s how Hiver helps healthcare professionals maintain compliance:

Secure Email Communication: Hiver provides a secure platform for healthcare teams to collaborate and communicate via email. It implements robust encryption protocols to protect PHI during transit, ensuring sensitive information remains confidential and inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. Additionally, Hiver does not store emails on its servers — meaning all your confidential data stays only on your Gmail account. 

Access Controls and Permission Management: Hiver ensures that all Protected Health Information (PHI) is stored securely on its systems. Role-based access controls (RBAC) are set in place to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data of users. It allows administrators to manage permissions and restrict access to specific information, minimizing the risk of data breaches.

Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Hiver offers healthcare organizations a Business Associate Agreement, which is a contractual arrangement that outlines the responsibilities of Hiver as a business associate to maintain HIPAA compliance. This agreement ensures that Hiver shares the responsibility of protecting PHI and adheres to HIPAA guidelines.

What is a BAA?

A BAA, or Business Associate Agreement, is a legal contract established between a covered entity (such as a healthcare provider) and a business associate. 

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),a business associate refers to any entity or individual that performs certain functions or activities on behalf of a covered entity involving the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI).

The purpose of a BAA is to outline the responsibilities and obligations of the business associate in safeguarding PHI and maintaining HIPAA compliance. The agreement establishes the terms and conditions under which the business associate may handle PHI, ensuring that appropriate security measures are in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information.

Data Monitoring and Auditing: Hiver maintains comprehensive audit trails that log user activities, providing a transparent record of who accessed PHI and when. This monitoring and auditing capability enables healthcare organizations to monitor data access, detect any unauthorized activity, and ensure compliance with HIPAA’s data integrity requirements.

Employee Training and Awareness: Hiver emphasizes the importance of HIPAA compliance and conducts regular employee training to ensure that its staff members understand the significance of protecting PHI. By raising awareness and imparting knowledge about HIPAA regulations, Hiver maintains a culture of compliance and data security.

By leveraging the capabilities of Hiver, healthcare organizations can effectively communicate and collaborate from Gmail, while ensuring HIPAA compliance.

Hiver’s secure infrastructure, access controls, data monitoring, and commitment to employee training provide healthcare professionals with the tools they need to handle patient information securely.