Providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to securely communicate important health information with patients, like medication reminders. This can help patients better understand their conditions and treatment plans, improving their health literacy.
What is health literacy?
Healthy People 2030 defines personal health literacy as “The degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
Whereas, organizational health literacy “is the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
One way to improve health literacy is through HIPAA compliant emails. Healthcare providers can deliver personalized, relevant, and timely health information directly to patients' inboxes, helping them make informed decisions about their health.
For example, providers can send personalized emails to patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The content can summarize their condition, provide dietary tips, and medication reminders tailored to their preferences and medical needs. The email can also include diabetic-friendly recipes, a schedule for upcoming webinars on nutrition, and a request for feedback to tailor future communications.
Ultimately, personalized emails deliver health information that addresses patient-specific needs, preferences, and behaviors, which could increase patient engagement.
Read also: Ways to use HIPAA compliant email to increase patient engagement
Ways in which HIPAA compliant emails can increase health literacy
1. Personalized health education:
Healthcare providers can tailor educational materials and resources to meet the specific needs and preferences of individual patients. For example, if a patient with asthma often forgets to take their daily preventive medication, their healthcare provider can use HIPAA compliant emails to send personalized reminders to take medication at consistent times daily. If a patient struggles with recognizing early signs of an asthma attack, they could send simple guides on identifying these signs.
2. Appointment reminders and follow-ups:
Providers can send appointment reminders, follow-up instructions after appointments or procedures, and guidelines for medication adherence. If a patient recently underwent a minor surgical procedure and needs follow-up care, their provider can send post-procedure instructions, like wound care guidelines and medication reminders. A week later, the provider could send another email to remind for the patient of their follow-up visit.
3. Eliminate portals to access resources:
While many healthcare providers offer online patient portals for accessing medical records and test results, navigating these portals is tedious and inconvenient. So, it’s best to use a platform like Paubox, which eliminates the need for portals by securely delivering medical information directly to patients' email inboxes. This simplifies patients' access to relevant medical records, test results, and educational resources.
4. Health promotion campaigns:
Email campaigns promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle modifications can further enhance health literacy. These campaigns can include tips on nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and stress management.
Here, providers must use evidence-based information to help patients make healthier choices and prevent the onset of chronic diseases.
5. Clarification of medical jargon:
According to Wolters Kluwer, “Translating medical jargon to consumer-friendly language can improve health literacy and aid patients in making informed decisions.”
Providers can use emails to communicate complex medical information clearly. This could help break down complicated concepts into layman's terms and provide explanations where needed.
FAQs
How do HIPAA compliant emails contribute to health literacy?
HIPAA compliant emails contribute to health literacy by delivering personalized and actionable health information directly to patients' inboxes, helping them make informed decisions about their health.
Are HIPAA compliant emails secure?
Yes, HIPAA compliant emails are secure because they use encryption and other security measures to protect patients' protected health information (PHI) from unauthorized access or disclosure.
Additionally, using platforms like Paubox enhances email security by ensuring HIPAA compliance throughout the email transmission process and at rest, further safeguarding patient data from potential threats or breaches.
How can healthcare providers ensure patients' consent before sending HIPAA compliant emails?
Healthcare providers must obtain patients' consent before sending HIPAA compliant emails by getting explicit permission from patients to communicate electronically and documenting their consent in their medical records.
Go deeper: How to get consent for texting and emailing patients
