September 2019 Summaries

Group messaging is a versatile tool that can enhance communication in various business scenarios, from real estate transactions to childcare and healthcare environments. By integrating group messaging with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, businesses can streamline communication, ensuring that all relevant parties receive timely updates about critical matters such as counter offers in home buying or appointment reminders in healthcare. It also proves beneficial for notifying multiple guardians in educational or childcare settings about urgent situations like illness or weather-related closures, ensuring that someone responds promptly. Furthermore, in security contexts, group messaging offers a rapid method to alert all residents about potential threats, bypassing the need for a single point of contact. Bandwidth's Group Messaging API highlights these applications as examples of how businesses can open up and improve their communication channels by adopting group messaging solutions.

This article discusses the HIPAA Conduit Exception Rule, which allows healthcare providers to conduct business with certain vendors without requiring a BAA (business associate agreement). Examples of such vendors include mail carriers and phone carriers. The article also highlights key considerations when choosing a telecommunications provider for healthcare systems, emphasizing dependability, failover and redundancy, easy change management, and coverage. It mentions Bandwidth as a reliable telephony partner that can provide all the telephony needs of healthcare systems.

Texting has become a popular communication method, especially among younger generations. Healthcare providers can leverage this trend by using SMS for appointment and medication reminders, as well as sharing surgery protocols. However, they must ensure compliance with HIPAA guidelines when handling protected health information (PHI) through text messages. Covered entities can use SMS to direct patients to secure patient portals or enable two-factor authentication. Healthcare providers should partner with established carriers and service providers that understand telecom options and HIPAA compliance, such as Bandwidth.

The healthcare industry is moving towards omni-channel customer experiences, with a focus on convenience for patients and improved outcomes for payers. However, maintaining patient privacy and adhering to rules governing protected health information (PHI) presents challenges. HIPAA, the HITECH Act, and various HHS regulations protect PHI and regulate how covered entities and business associates use or disclose it. By outlining specific options for communication, healthcare providers can improve health outcomes and save money while maintaining patient privacy. The HIPAA Conduit Exception Rule allows certain types of vendors to conduct business with covered entities without a business associate agreement. Healthcare systems should choose experienced providers to navigate communications technology in healthcare while adhering to HIPAA regulations.