Digital Healthcare: The emergence of new privacy laws in an era of digital business and record management, has many companies quaking in their boots around data security.
One of the industries perhaps most touched by the concern over sensitive data, is the healthcare industry and, although digitisation can sound scary, there are so many more benefits than there are risks. At the top of the advantages list, is increased security.
Independent research on paper document security by the Ponemon Institute found that not only is there a greater risk of loss that comes with going the paper route – rather than digital – but paper processes also make it far more difficult for companies to prepare for audits, share information securely and cut down on costs.
“There are not enough resources available to protect confidential paper documents. Sixty-one percent of individuals surveyed report that there are not enough resources and controls available to secure paper documents containing sensitive or confidential information,” reports Ponemon.
Digital Dawn
And, while times may change, paper processes do not. The fact remains – paper and manual document and data processes will always require more time and money, and be more prone to human error and other inevitable risks that come with physical handling, duplication and the sending back and forth of documents.
Fortunately, where times and resources do change, is in the digital realm. Today, digitalisation is not only a reality – it is the only way to go for institutions that value the security of their data as highly as law – and good sense – dictate.
Digitising processes, including storing and maintaining medical records, registration, exam requests and prescriptions, among others, can only bolster the security of data, and therefore the protection of all parties involved in medical processes, including patients, physicians, hospitals, laboratories and medical finance institutions.
The SigniFlow solution was developed precisely for this type of application. Instead of limiting functionality and dictating how entities and organisations should use their systems, SigniFlow offers total flexibility, allowing integration with a host of business applications so companies can go digital their way, with as little disruption as possible.
The best part, coming back to the thorny issue of data security, is that our encrypted solution is fully compliant with all security and privacy standards, including security requirements imposed by internal policies, industry, national and international laws.
Serious Security
SigniFlow is compatible with different enterprise resource planning (ERP) and hospital management systems, such as Phillips Tasy, MV and Benner, allowing entities and organisations to take advantage of investments already made, without the impact a change of system and infrastructure can have.
Our software platform enables the digitisation of processes such as patient check in, onboarding, medical records, requests for examinations and procedures, prescriptions and many more medical processes. At the same time, the SigniFlow solution uses different authentication methods to guarantee the identity of the parties involved, and to apply electronic signatures sealed by a digital certificate.
What’s more, SigniFlow allows users with their own certificates to use these, thereby enforcing compliance with regulations such as eIDAS, eSign, ICP Brasil, HIPPA, and many others, ensuring the authenticity, integrity and non-repudiation required to legally validate the relevant documents anywhere in the world.
For customers that require a higher level of identity assurance, we can also implement different authentication methods, such as witness signatures, photo capturing or biometrics, at the time of signing.
Big Benefits
So, in a nutshell, what are the real and immediate benefits of digitising processes in the healthcare industry?
Well, in addition to a considerable reduction in the costs associated with paper processes, going digital with SigniFlow can:
- Decrease time of registration and admission of patients
- Reduce waiting time for insurance approvals
- Reduce financial loss resulting from misplaced original paper contracts related to payments for hospitals and insurance
- Eliminate prescription forgery and health insurance fraud
- Increase efficiency when it comes to access to patients’ medical history
- Centralise information, allowing it to be shared with the relevant party (such as other hospitals, experts, health insurance, laboratories & pharmacies) in a matter of seconds
And the above are just some of the many benefits that come from integrating with our platform to digitise processes.
For patients, it means faster and more efficient healthcare. It means faster processes – which in turn means a quicker diagnosis.
For more information visit www.signiflow.com or call us on 010 300 4898.
REFERENCES
- Ponemon Institute: Security of Paper Documents in the Workplace
- Crypto ID: Benefícios da digitalização de processos na Indústria de Saúde
