Secure emails

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Have you found a way to securely email your referrers?

We have been using Medical Objects through the IHealth system organised by our local Division of GPs in Brisbane. We have just found some gliches with it. It will only send text and you cannot add attachments to it. THis means that photos that we might insert into a Word document are not sent and any reports that might include tables are reverted to a plain text which destroys the formatting and makes it useless. We have been using this to send to our referring GPs , especially for EPC cases as it goes directly to their practice management software and is saved in the patients clinical file. Other forms of emailing is either not secure or needs to then be scanned (if in hard copy form) or cut and pasted by the Gps reception to insert into files.

Does anyone have a secure way of responding to referrers that works with medical software????
Hope any Aussie Pods can help!!!

 

Hi good question! We have not gone down the path of emails yet to send documents. I'm sure there will be someone out there who already does this.
It may also be worth asking in the Aussie forum??
We use smartsoft front desk and it is setup for emails but I have not checked out how it works.

I look forward to hearing form others.

Cheers

Cheers

 

We use TM2 practice management software and it can send letters/files by email.

 

Hi Paul,
Can you tell me if your emails that you send are encrypted so that patient data is secure. That is the main problem that I am trying to overcome. We use the Frontdesk software which is great for general emails. However it does not encrpt data to send clinical details. It does not communicate with other practice management software that the medical profession uses. Do you know if yours will send directly so that the GP can receive the data in their pt file??? I know I am asking a lot but this is the direction we need to go to communicate well with the medical profession.

 

HJ - Ray,
Hi - We use Smartsoft and use the email part for reminders but that does not have any clincal data so is not a problem re needing encryption. We have a Medical Objects program that has a Word Plug in that is attached to our Frontdesk program which we have been using to email GPs with encryption. THis is where our problems have arisen because it will only send text. We are sending letters from our Frontdesk through this plug in. Works great for text letters re pts but just the problem re photos or reports in table form. We are trying to get Medical Objects to address this but no luck yet. I thought if there was a better system we would investgate this!!!

 

I believe it is NO to all of that. We don't send "personal" details via email, just referral letters etc.. If something of a "medical, personal or private" nature is needed to be send it is de-identified with a patient number which we can track.

 

Interesting a relevant threat. Thanks,
Paul, Most of the referral letters I send usually have details that would be classed as medical, personal or private. I dont mean to sound smart, just an enquiry as I dont know if I am following you 'referral leters etc' classification.

Interested to find out more.

thanks,

Sally

 

I think what Linda was getting at was 'secure' encrypted emails, which are now being employed around the country for communication between medical practitioners. Medical Objects is currently supplying this service, and there are other players out there.

The idea is that secure messaging and transfer of patient data will become seamless between health professionals as part of the multifaceted e-health initiatives.

LL

 

Thanks LL,
Yes I am after other Pods experience with encyrpted emails for transferring data to GPs/other referrers securely. Medical Objects is working well but for tables/photos as I have mentioned. Anyone have any experience with other programs??? Do you still use snail mail???

 

Hello Linda.
I do not use Medical Objects for my e-mails. Are you e-mailing the word document using the encrypting software? Because if you are, the easiest way would be to convert that letter (by using something like FlashPaper), to a pdf. file and emailing that. The picture should then be embedded within the letter.
Maybe this could help. Clinton

 

Hi

With Outlook 2007 you can send emails with a digital signature and encrypted. The digital signature verifies that you sent the email and it was not tampered with. The signature also has a key that allows the recipient to send you encrypted emails in the future. This transfer relies on both parties sending in S/MIME and the email gateway allowing this format as well. This encryption allows only that recipient to read and open that email.

Clear as mud in a beer bottle..! I would recommend to get an IT guy to come out and set this up for you.

Cheers

Camo

 

HealthLink is a great way to send info provided the other party has a healthlink address. Great for communicating with GPs http://www.healthlink.net/