A Guide to HIPAA Compliant HealthCare Apps

Covid-19 has heralded an era of uncertainty and insecurity for many nations in the world. This health emergency has propelled governments to prioritise the health domain and look for more appropriate and advanced healthcare options. During this crisis, what most people resorted to was a healthcare mobile app that bridged the gap between a physician and a patient. Additionally, there was nothing more apt and safe than a mobile app to book an appointment with the doctor and have an online consultation. 

Digitalization has left a more profound impression on the economies of the world. In the same way, it has impacted the health sector. There are high-tech solutions such as EHR and pillCam that let the physician see everything inside the human body and help healthcare professionals digitally manage patients’ information. Then, the number of healthcare apps is also mushrooming globally.  

However, it is crucial to safeguard digitally stored data. That is where the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA Compliance comes in. For anyone aspiring to create a healthcare mobile app, it is important to understand this act clearly.

We will have an in-depth discussion over it in this blog. 

HIPPA Compliance: What is Covered in It? 

HIPPA Compliance represents such laws that bar unauthorized access to a patient’s stored information. This policy favours that no one without the consent of the patient can have an access to their information. Anyone seen breaching this rule has to face strict penalties and fines of around $25K. No one should be able to access, misinterpret and amend the information inside. A non-HIPPA Compliant app may attract several penalties for you. 

However, not all the apps come under HIPPA compliance. 

The following factors determine which apps should fall under HIPPA Compliance:

• Data Type

In case the data type is related to accumulating, processing and sharing information from one digital platform to another then it indicates that you must implement the PHI protection covered under the law. 

However, you are fortunate if the data ascertain the allowable uses. That indicates that you are in the position to share the information with healthcare professionals for treatment and not for any other motive. You are safe if your app is used properly. 

• End Users

Being HIPPA compliant or not also depends on the end users. For an instance, the Mhealth app has been created for hospitals, telemedicine or clinics where the information is subject to amendments. Third parties that can have access to, alter or edit the sensitive data, are essential to have this. 

• Digital Partner

If you build an app that supports the laws and regulations covered inside PHI, then make sure the developer implements the act properly. 

HIPAA Compliant Patient Data: What You Need to Cover?

PHI encloses any 18 identifiers of a patient given below. The below-given points are covered. 

How to Create a HIPAA-Compliant App?

The requirement to build a comprehensive HIPPA complaint app may leave you overwhelmed. However, the top-notch developers know what exactly to do to build such quality applications that can relieve your stress. 

But this does not mean that your healthcare will be secured against any penalties. 

Let us have a look at the factors to learn about this. 

• Access Controls 

This function regulates access to information to network participants. This standard of safeguarding will lower the risk of data breaches and threatful access to information.  For example, a doctor is not allowed to share the data with other associates if they do not possess authorization rights. 

Let us look at how Access Control Standard Works: 

• Emergency access
• Encryption and decryption of data
• Unique user identification system with smart keys, passwords, biometrics, and PIN.
• Automatic log off.

• Data Backup

Data backup is required to protect against any type of loss and unauthorized access. Today’s world supports cloud backup that allows users to recover data anytime, anywhere, with merely the need for an internet connection. 

• Data Encryption 

Data encryption assures a shield against all unregulated access by making the data illegible. The data will not prove to be useful and cannot be read or viewed properly if there will be some attempts to access it. This is a flawless way to offer safety to a patient’s data. This law requires you to encode the data once it gets into other networks.

• Security Audits

Security audits are accountable for vulnerability assessment, risk assessment, penetration verifications and compliance checks. It also ensures consistent security evaluation to offer proper protection to data. 

• Disposal Methods

It evolves into a concern that is to make electronic patients’ information unreadable. To comply with that, the law has the protocol to cover the clearing method as the last disposal of electronic records. 

To Sum Up

Undeniably, healthcare applications are game-changing elements for the tech industry. The optimal use of deriving such solutions is to bridge the gap between doctors and patients. However, to mitigate any risk of information misuse, HIPPA compliance is imperative. 

To work toward your goals efficiently, you need to collaborate with the right partner to get a HIPPA-complaint application. Bank on Elephy Tech, a leading mobile app development company in Australia that has immense experience in creating healthcare solutions.