If you work in the medical field—or your clients are in the medical field—you already know the importance of HIPAA compliance. But do you know your VoIP provider needs to be HIPAA compliant as well?
Business phone systems don’t always come to mind when it comes to safeguarding Protected Health Information (commonly known as PHI). But if you’re using a VoIP communication system, or planning to, the digital technology that powers it also puts electronic PHI (ePHI) at risk. That’s why it’s absolutely essential your VoIP provider is HIPAA compliant.
What’s at risk with a non-HIPAA compliant VoIP provider?
When your VoIP service provider isn’t HIPAA compliant, you’re putting a lot on the line. Here’s just some of what’s at stake.
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Your patients’—or your clients’ patients—medical information.
You’ve likely switched, or you’re thinking about switching, to VoIP because of its array of cloud-based features. But because it’s powered by “the cloud,” ePHI—in the form of voicemails, call recordings, faxes, and texts—stored in your VoIP system must be properly encrypted to keep it safe.
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Your reputation.
While your patients’, or your clients’ patients, ePHI security should always be a top priority, your business’s reputation is also at stake. Selecting a HIPAA-compliant VoIP provider is another way to make your patients or clients feel like they’re in good hands. Failure to do so puts your reputation—and sensitive, government-regulated ePHI—at risk.
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Your bottom line.
It’s mandated by the federal government (per HIPAA’s 2003 Security Rule) to keep ePHI secure. Failure to do so could result in massive fines. One fine alone could put your business out of business for good.
What are the benefits of a HIPAA-compliant VoIP provider?
There’s no shortage of advantages when it comes to having a HIPAA-compliant VoIP provider.
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You’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your patient’s, or client’s patients’, ePHI is safe.
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You’ll also be ready for periodic audits by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. (And if your VoIP provider isn’t HIPAA compliant, your business could be hit with hefty fines.)
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You’ll also be ready to produce a Business Associate Agreement—something absolutely essential to your HIPAA compliance—should you be audited.
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You’ll enjoy all the convenient features of VoIP, which keeps all phone-related communications—including texts, faxes, voicemails, and call recordings—under one umbrella, fully accessible to everyone on your team, anywhere in the world.
How do VoIP providers become HIPAA compliant?
HIPAA-compliant VoIP providers abide by a comprehensive checklist of stringent Security Rule regulations to ensure ePHI is fully encrypted so only those authorized have access to it. In short, they’re legally authorized to protect sensitive medical data. Some even partner with third-party HIPAA experts to ensure they’re 100% compliant at all times.
How can I find a HIPAA-compliant VoIP provider?
We can make it easy for you. Phone.com is proud to offer affordable, HIPAA and HITECH-compliant VoIP service ideal for small to midsize businesses.
To ensure maximum compliance, Phone.com partners with the Compliancy Group, a leading HIPAA compliance organization founded by former auditors and compliance experts.
Trusted by over 30,000 small businesses, Phone.com offers a suite of wide-ranging features designed to keep up with you and your team—whatever you’re doing, on whatever phone you’re using—anywhere in the world.