Accelerate Patient Discharge Times with Text Messaging

Frequently Asked Questions


Using Text Messaging to Accelerate Patient Discharge Times

A 2013 study conducted by the Ponemon Research Institute in Michigan revealed that, when it is possible to accelerate patient discharge times with text messaging, patient wait times could be reduced by up 50 percent – with healthcare facilities saving on average $557,253 per year.

The researchers’ conclusions were drawn after 577 clinicians, IT practitioners and other healthcare professionals were surveyed about using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times as opposed to the continued use of pagers and other outdated communication technologies.

However, it was also notable that the majority of respondents commented that HIPAA compliance requirements restricted the use of personal mobile devices to communicate, and also made it difficult to access the protected health information (PHI) that medical professionals needed to complete the patient discharge process.

What HIPAA Has to Say about Discharging Patients Communication by Text

The use of SMS and email to communicate PHI was effectively banned in 2013 when the Final Omnibus Rule enacted regulations relating to security and privacy within the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Although not specifically banning the practice of using text messaging to discharge patients, the regulations “require covered entities to implement procedures and policies to restrict access to, protect the integrity of, and guard against unauthorized access to PHI.”

Guidelines were produced which would allow using text messaging for patient discharge provided that the following conditions were met:

  • The implementation of a secure texting platform that allowed authorized users access to encrypted data maintained on a secure server
  • The prevention of unauthorized access to PHI which included stopping authorized users from saving PHI to external hard drives such as desktop computers and mobile devices
  • Any secure texting platform that was implemented had to have the facility to remotely delete text messages and remove users if a threat to the integrity of PHI was identified A messaging policy had to be developed to inform authorized users on how to accelerate patient discharge times with text messaging in compliance with HIPAA
  • The use of the secure texting platform has to be monitored by system administrators to ensure authorized users are complying with the texting policy

Consequently, provided that the guidelines are adhered to, there is no reason why the use of personal mobile devices should be restricted, or access to PHI difficult, and it would therefore be possible to accelerate patient discharge times with text messaging.

Accelerate Patient Discharge Times with a Text Messaging Platform from TigerConnect

TigerConnect provides secure HIPAA-compliant text messaging to more than 3,000 medical facilities, which is not only used to accelerate patient discharge times, but also for a multitude of procedures.

Their secure texting platform works in a similar way to SMS text messaging, and complies with the conditions for using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times by enabling authorized users to access or send PHI through a SAAS solution.

As the application works across multiple platforms, authorized users can collaborate simultaneously with access to lab results and x-ray images in order to accelerate patient discharge times with text messaging, and pre-determined “lifespans” can be attributed to each communication so that messages are automatically deleted once the discharge process is completed. The TigerConnect platform also produces audit logs and access reports in order that system administrators can monitor activity, and to ensure that when medical professionals are using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times, they are doing so within the HIPAA regulations.

Develop Policies for Using Text Messaging to Accelerate Patient Discharge Times In order for medical professionals to be aware of the correct procedures for discharging patients by text, healthcare organizations have to develop “best practice” policies to prevent a breach of PHI and ensure that private patient information is not compromised.

We have compiled a white paper – “Top 8 Secure Messaging Policy Best Practices” – which lists the most important components of a HIPAA-compliant text messaging policy and includes information on what should be included in a secure texting policy, guidelines for using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times and how a secure texting policy can be integrated with other organizational policies. The white paper is free to download without any obligations or commitments, and thereafter you are welcome to contact uswith any comments or questions you may have with regard to using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times.

Additional Benefits of TigerConnect’s Secure Texting Platform Case studies and testimonials showcase the various benefits of TigerConnect. Medical professionals now have the ability to receive PHI on the go with secure texting – enhancing doctor-nurse communications and enabling requests for physician consults to be acted upon immediately.

Automatically generated read receipts confirm that messages sent by secure texting have been received, and this eliminates phone tag when hospital staff are attempting to locate an on-call doctor or when a medical professional is required to urgently attend a patient in their home.

Indeed, the biggest beneficiaries of secure texting are patients. From the time they are admitted to the time they are discharged, secure texting facilitates a higher level of healthcare – with diagnoses being delivered quicker by secure texting, the patient receiving the most appropriate treatment sooner and making a faster recovery.

Speak with TigerConnect about Using Text Messaging To Discharge Patients

If the figures produced by the Ponemon Research Institute at the top of the page are accurate, the savings made from implementing a secure texting platform far outweigh any costs associated with discharging patients by text in compliance with HIPAA.

With TigerConnect’s secure texting platform – and a suitable policy to inform medical professionals on the best practices for using the application – it should be possible to accelerate patient discharge times with text messaging for the benefit of healthcare organizations, medical professionals and patients.

To learn more, you can download and read our “Top 8 Secure Messaging Policy Best Practices” and thereafter to contact us for further information on the best practices for using text messaging to accelerate patient discharge times.

Secure Healthcare Messaging with TigerConnect

TigerConnect’s encrypted messaging platform provides the highest level of secure healthcare messaging by using a
cloud-based virtual private network to safeguard protected health information. Hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, employers, insurance companies and other contractors who communicate or access patient data using their personal mobile devices, will find the platform simple to use and little different from their usual texting practices.

Furthermore, with no software to download before being able to use TigerConnect’s encrypted messaging platform, individuals who use personal mobile devices in the course of their duties will not be inconvenienced by additional applications on their phones or tablets, although network administrators will be able to receive usage reports to maintain control over the flow of protected health information and to ensure all personnel comply with the revised secure healthcare texting regulations.

The TigerConnect encrypted messaging platform meets the criteria required for secure healthcare messaging and fully complies with the revised HIPAA regulations. It also offers many additional time and cost-saving benefits to organizations, including those listed below:

  • Members of a team can collaborate in real time when using the TigerConnect platform without risking the integrity of protected health information.
  • When used on personal mobile devices, the TigerConnect platform eliminates waiting times while personnel find an available workstation to log-in to messaging accounts.
  • Secure healthcare communications by TigerConnect enable fast decision making when necessary to provide patients with the most appropriate care.
  • The TigerConnect secure healthcare texting platform sends read receipts to senders when messages have been read, which eliminates the need for follow-up calls.
Request A Demo

See how TigerConnect helps 6,000+ healthcare teams collaborate seamlessly across the hall or across the health system.

About TigerConnect

TigerConnect provides secure, real-time mobile messaging for the enterprise, empowering organizations to work more securely. TigerConnect’s encrypted messaging platform keeps communications safe, improves workflows, and complies with industry regulations.