Nurses, doctors, and support staff must be able to communicate effectively with one another and their patients. Why? To provide high-quality, tailored healthcare services to individuals who need them. Furthermore, communication issues lead to problems such as poor medical outcomes, wasted resources, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and dissatisfaction among both staff and patients.
As time progresses, an increasing number of healthcare providers are adopting secure messaging. Still, some practices and facilities may hesitate due to myths about patient texting. To make the right decision for your healthcare business, you need the facts. Read on as we cover five common misconceptions about secure messaging in healthcare.
Why Secure Messaging is Important in Healthcare Communication
When it comes to communication in healthcare institutions, few things are as important as secure messaging. Suppose you are wondering why. Consider two things:
1) The risks of unsecured messaging & 2) The benefits of secure messaging.
We will cover both below:
The risks of insecure messaging include, but are not limited to:
- Potentially costly HIPAA violations.
- An increased risk of human error.
- Sending confidential information to the wrong patients.
- Miscommunications or incomplete information due to message character limits.
On the other hand, secure messaging brings forth some amazing benefits for healthcare practices and their patients:
- Increased patient engagement.
- Improved care coordination.
- Lowered risk of privacy issues or HIPAA violations.
- A digital trail of conversation threads, documentation, and more.
- Ability to do audio/video consults quickly and easily.
Also Read: The Crucial Role of Secure Texting in Modern Healthcare
5 Misconceptions About Secure Messaging in the Healthcare Setting
Secure messaging may appear straightforward, but misinformation has led some to dismiss it. It is essential to fully understand this communication method before deciding. Start with the information below:
Standard Texting Apps are Good Enough for Healthcare Communication
Some people may think that run-of-the-mill standard texting apps are good enough.
Many of these messages lack encryption capabilities, allowing unauthorized parties to view and potentially misuse information sent via regular SMS. Additionally, if an SMS is sent to the wrong person, it can be recalled. The carriers responsible for transmitting these messages keep a copy of the information you send for an undisclosed period.
All of this leaves healthcare team members, providers, and patients vulnerable to data breaches and HIPAA violations resulting from inadequate protection of sensitive patient information. For these reasons, it is best to avoid standard texting apps for healthcare communication.
Also Read: Top 7 HIPAA Violations Caused by Poor Communication Tools
Secure Messaging is Too Complicated for Staff to Use
Another common misconception about secure messaging is that it is too complicated for staff to use. The reality is that usage difficulty depends on the specific application or platform you choose to use. The main thing to understand here is that every secure messaging platform is built differently; user experience, operational instructions, and target audience vary. If you try three different options, one of them is easier to use than the others. So, this blanket statement is false.
That being understood, some secure messaging apps come with a learning curve, and it may take a brief time to get everyone up to speed on the app's functionalities. Choose a platform like QliqSOFT for a HIPAA-compliant Secure Messaging App, which has a sleek, user-friendly interface, a hassle-free 3-step integration process, and intuitive user guides. Your staff will be up and running in as little as 24 hours.
Secure Messaging is Only for Doctors; Nurses and Admins Don't Need It
Many people believe that secure patient messaging is a doctor-only issue, and that supporting staff, such as nurses and administrative professionals, have no use for it. This idea may stem from the mistaken idea that only doctors can respond to client messages; there is no such federal regulation in place. In addition to that, there are many scenarios where nurses and admins can, and should, handle communication management, including:
- Conducting preliminary assessment and answering incoming patient messages.
- Creating forms and obtaining signatures from the relevant parties.
- Scheduling or managing appointments via text.
- Sending and receiving messages from internal team members.
- Sharing test results with patients.
Secure Messaging is Too Expensive
Secure messaging sometimes gets a bad rep for being on the expensive side. However, what many do not realize is that secure messaging apps and platform access come at various price points, ranging from higher to lower, and others fall somewhere in between. With a bit of research, you can find a competitively priced secure messaging solution that provides the specific features you need for safe and efficient communication.
Conversational Messaging Requires Technical Skill
Although technical skills are necessary for many software types, they are not usually essential for conversational messaging apps. Now and then, you might come across an unusually complex or technical secure messaging platform. However, most of them, including QliqSOFT's patient communication software, are easy for anyone to use, regardless of their technical ability.
What Should Healthcare Organizations Do Instead?
According to the HIPAA Journal, an increasing number of U.S. institutions are transitioning to EHR-integrated secure messaging technology. Studies have shown that secure messaging has enormous potential to improve the flow of information and communication. Therefore, instead of using SMS to interact with patients or internal parties, we recommend using secure messaging.
Top-notch platforms like QliqSOFT are an easy choice for organizations that value HIPAA compliance and patient engagement. They are also helpful for reducing healthcare staff burnout and cutting staffing costs.
A HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Solution Should Offer
Here at QliqSOFT, we know what healthcare organizations need in a secure messaging platform. When shopping around for a HIPAA-compliant messaging solution, here are some features to look for:
- Custom message fields with personalization capabilities
- Secure and integrated patient and staff texting
- Automated patient outreach
- Patient validation
- Digital form customization and cloning
- Image capture and uploading functionality
- Conversational chatbots
- An E-signature solution with progress tracking, custom branding, and form building a coding-free design.
Final Thoughts
Misconceptions surrounding healthcare communication tools keep medical organizations worldwide from achieving the growth and efficiency they are capable of. Do not let your organization fall behind due to common misconceptions about secure texting. Instead, provide your patients and staff with the secure messaging tool they need to communicate and collaborate effectively for the well-being of every individual under your care.
