|
Post by blueyedoc on Oct 15, 2018 11:51:26 GMT -6
Often we communicate with our patients via email. To save time and remain HIPAA compliant it would be great if there was a capability to simply email patients, doctors, etc direct from Crystal. We know about the patient portal but often this poses even more delays due to the patients access rights.
Any suggestions?
|
|
|
Post by friscoeyeassociates on Nov 10, 2018 11:16:07 GMT -6
The issue is that Emailing PHI (Protected Health Information) is not allowed unless both the sender AND recipient are using encrypted email clients.. HIPAA compliant and fully encrypted email clients are not common, and virtually zero normal people ie. patients will have them. Therefore, emailing documents that include PHI is essentially not feasible at this point in time unless you're willing to accept some sort of risk in regards to compliance.
Crystal does offer an encrypted email potential, so there is a potential you could get access to this (for a nominal fee if I remember correctly). However, it will only be useful to you for communicating with other healthcare providers who also have a secured email, which from my experience are few and far between. The portal is essentially a work around in my view, but its kind of the best option we have at this point if you want to stay above board. This is because despite not being able to email patients any documents containing PHI, you can email them their login and password for the patient portal along with a link directly to the login screen. If you're thinking to yourself "wow, that doesn't seem much more protected than sending it direct to their email"... I whole-heartedly agree and we should all write to CMS in disgust. But until the rules change or other options become available this is kind of it...
|
|
|
Post by drroach on Jun 7, 2019 19:32:27 GMT -6
I think what would be easier here would be a better way to message the patient through the portal. Right now, one has to go to the portal and send a message to the patient; whereas, it would be nice to just hit a button on one of the patient section tabs to "Send Message" to the patient. Unless there is a way to do this already and I just haven't found it.
|
|
|
Post by bethers711 on Jun 10, 2019 8:38:23 GMT -6
I think what would be easier here would be a better way to message the patient through the portal. Right now, one has to go to the portal and send a message to the patient; whereas, it would be nice to just hit a button on one of the patient section tabs to "Send Message" to the patient. Unless there is a way to do this already and I just haven't found it. You can send a message from the patient profile. Go to: Files tab Click the "online portal (add/remove files)" button Check the "messages" bubble and then you have the option to send messages to them.
|
|
|
Post by drroach on Jun 10, 2019 11:30:08 GMT -6
That works! Thanks. That was well hidden in there.
|
|
|
Post by KizerOpt on Jun 26, 2019 9:15:30 GMT -6
The only problem with that, that I have found is the patient has to know to look at the portal for the message. That leaves me sending an email separately to tell them to look at the portal for a message. That would be nice to have automated, even if we can't use the secure email feature. No PHI involved. Just "you have a message from...." Currently, that doesn't work.
Karen
|
|
|
Post by erica on Jun 26, 2019 10:16:48 GMT -6
The only problem with that, that I have found is the patient has to know to look at the portal for the message. That leaves me sending an email separately to tell them to look at the portal for a message. That would be nice to have automated, even if we can't use the secure email feature. No PHI involved. Just "you have a message from...." Currently, that doesn't work. Karen After clicking the Send Message button, there is a checkbox at the bottom of the message window to send email to the patient informing them.... I tested it and it's working on my end.
|
|
|
Post by KizerOpt on Jun 27, 2019 13:41:00 GMT -6
The only problem with that, that I have found is the patient has to know to look at the portal for the message. That leaves me sending an email separately to tell them to look at the portal for a message. That would be nice to have automated, even if we can't use the secure email feature. No PHI involved. Just "you have a message from...." Currently, that doesn't work. Karen After clicking the Send Message button, there is a checkbox at the bottom of the message window to send email to the patient informing them.... I tested it and it's working on my end. Didn't work for me this week. Care to take a look and help me fix? Karen
|
|