Why is HIPAA Compliance Important for Dental Answering Services?

Dentists in the healthcare industry manage and care for a patient's oral health. For most dental organizations, patients prefer making an appointment on the phone before visiting the clinic. The patients even share their sensitive information on call or may ask queries related to ongoing treatment or illness and expect a prompt response. For such reasons, it becomes essential for your dental organization to adopt HIPAA-compliant medical answering service.

Such services are significant for all healthcare professions, including dental.

This post highlights the importance of HIPAA-Compliance for dental answering services.

Have a quick read!

Understanding HIPAA-Compliancy

The HIPAA Act was introduced in 1996 to safeguard the personal health information of an individual. It implements additional security and compliance methods for companies handling sensitive health data. 

It fundamentally impacts how a patient's information can be stored and transferred. The details of a patient's healthcare treatments, medical conditions, billing information, contact details, and incurred payments must be more private and secure than before. 

Significance of HIPAA Compliance Dental Answering Services

The answering services for dentists bound by HIPAA regulations hold great significance as they can bring numerous benefits to your organization.

Here's how a HIPAA-compliant dental answering service can benefit your organization.

Protected Communications

HIPAA-compliant answering services have a secure computer system and network for transmitting and accessing sensitive data. They provide limited access to only trained and authorized staff members. Even the authorized members must pass two-factor authentication before securing access to the process.

All calls, voice messages, emails, and texts are sent and received using password and encryption protection.

Using HIPAA-Compliant Devices

The dental practice involves exchanging regular SMS messages from your phone to the patient. HIPAA-compliant answering solutions use electronic devices and communication platforms with password and encryption protection for handling this kind of data.

It helps to maintain a seamless and safe communication process about and with patients.

Safety of Recorded and Stored Information 

Most sensitive data and recorded calls are stored in the database, cloud storage, and physical servers. A virtual receptionist following HIPAA federal laws impart restrictions to areas and software where sensitive data is accessed and stored.

Fully Trained Agents in HIPAA Compliance 

The staff working for a dental answering company is fully trained and knowledgeable in following security procedures and policies related to HIPAA compliance. 

They are trained for cybersecurity awareness and practice precise reporting protocols and contingency plans in data breach situations.

Registered Staff 

Partnering with a HIPAA-compliant answering service provider means your patients can always reach the office 24x7. You get access to registered staff skilled in telephone triage. The staff is professionally certified to offer PHI and HIPAA-compliant answering solutions.

Improved Patient Satisfaction and Experience 

Delivering excellent patient care is vital for every dental practice. Providing patients with high-quality dental office answering services can make the experience positive for your clients.

When a patient calls your office, you can make them feel valued and cared for. They deliver to the correct place, ensuring that your patients get quick and prompt assistance whenever they require it. It will help strengthen the relationship with your organization and make them more likely to come back when they require your service again. 

Answers Every Call 

Holding HIPAA compliance means that all patient health information or PHI is secure and safe. It works as an extension of the practice for after-hours or full-day support. 

The answering service grows with your dental practice and offers your patients the professional support they require whenever they call your office. 

Increases Reliability and Accountability of Your Office 

A HIPAA-compliant answering company can help increase your dental office's reliability and accountability in patients' eyes. It is because whenever patients call, someone is there to answer them. 

Someone is always available for them to address their concerns, which can bring credibility to your dental practice. Patients know their medical professionals, and physicians are committed to making them feel better. 

Risks of Violating HIPAA Federal Rules by Dental Practice 

The HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was introduced to safeguard individuals' private health information. The common HIPAA violations are:

• Employee Error
• Unencrypted Data
• Lapse in Notification of the Data Breach
• Data stored on devices like laptops or smartphones

If you violate the HIPAA regulations knowingly or by mistake, you become liable for heavy fines. In some cases, you can be imprisoned. For this reason, conducting in-depth research and hiring a HIPAA-compliant dental answering service is essential. 

Partner with a Trustworthy Dental Answering Service with Proven HIPAA Compliance

If your medical answering service provider does not meet HIPAA compliance standards, you must immediately switch to an efficient and reliable provider. It's because the satisfaction and experience of your customers depend largely on this.

notifyMD is one of Virginia's finest medical answering service companies that deliver HIPAA compliance solutions to all healthcare industry divisions. We deliver robust and secure answering solutions for our clients. 

We can take your dental practice to the next level with efficient patient communications. With our answering solutions, you can gain streamline patient communication, boost operational excellence, capture calls, enhance fill rates, and gain novel revenue opportunities.

Call us to discover more about our call-answering services and try a free trial.