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HIPAA establishes national standards for safeguarding patient data collected, transmitted and stored online and goes beyond a basic privacy policy or secure hosting protocol badge. All healthcare practices and providers are responsible for protecting patient records and data (PHI) in the US.
Compliance does not require health system or enterprise-level complexity to achieve, but it does require several essential safeguards and practices. Read on for our list of healthcare website essentials that can help your practice maintain HIPAA compliance while building trust with your patients.
1. Protecting patient interactions with end-to-end encryption
Encrypting web traffic and data ensures patients are protected at all points in their care journey. This includes patient intake or pre-visit forms, secure messaging or portal access, and appointment request forms. Data Encryption Recommendations:
- Communication security: Data moving between servers, APIs and third-party systems must be protected using TLS 1.2 or the newer 1.3 security protocols
- Database safety: Healthcare websites must be encrypted using modern standards such as AES-256 for data at rest, including database and website backups
2. Securing access with user authentication and logging
Controlling healthcare patient data security necessitates user access controls that determine who can view and interact with sensitive PHI. These access controls apply to all components of the website—from patient portals and admin dashboards to form management tools to ensure safety and compliance.
Account and Access Recommendations:
- Role-based accounts: Unique user IDs or accounts with role-based permissions helps minimize exposure and reduce risk if an employee’s credentials are compromised
- Require MFA logins: Multi-factor authentication (“MFA”) adds a second layer of protection beyond a password to reduce the likelihood of a compromised account accessing PHI
- Auto account logout: Automatic website session timeouts after several minutes of user inactivity helps reduce the chances of unauthorized access in shared environments
3. Integrating third-party software and data safely
Modern healthcare practice websites rely on third-party services and tools such as scheduling software, CRMs, chat and messaging, and more to provide efficient patient service. As with all forms of patient data, third-party integrations must remain secure to ensure HIPAA compliance.
Data and software integration recommendations:
- Secure transmissions: All systems that interface with PHI must do so through secure APIs that ensure:
- Encrypted data transmission
- Authentication and authorization controls
- Minimal data exposure
- Ongoing compliance reviews: Conducting security review compliance audits regularly to ensure website components and integrations meet security standards
4. Scalable website infrastructure built for compliance
Building a HIPAA-compliant healthcare practice website requires a backend that works with the frontend patient experience to ensure safety and scalability. This includes the flexibility to grow as new offices open and new tools and software need to be added.
Website Infrastructure Recommendations:
- Secure cloud: HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting sources and a hosting provider that supports Business Associate Agreements (BAA)
- Development environment: Secure containerization and deployment that reduces the risk of vulnerability to threats
The goal of HIPAA compliance for healthcare practices is protecting patient trust while keeping operations moving smoothly. Understanding these HIPAA-compliant website essentials and selecting a healthcare-accredited web development agency puts trust at the center of future website growth and scaling.
Trone can help your healthcare practice maintain HIPAA compliance at all stages of development while ensuring patient security across your website. Contact us to discuss how to amplify your brand to magnify connections with patients, families and healthcare professionals.
