Your Guide to HIPAA-Compliant Web Designs [With Checklist]
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) changed how the United States works with health information. For healthcare organizations, a HIPAA-compliant web design is a must. Get your free HIPAA web design checklist here.
The HIPAA was passed in 1996 and did not directly reference the Internet — but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply. In fact, if you plan to do anything with people’s protected health information (PHI) online, you need a website that complies with HIPAA’s high standards.
If you’re a healthcare professional with an online presence, you must have a HIPAA-compliant web design. Keep reading to learn more about HIPAA compliance!
There are more precautions you need to take for a HIPAA-compliant site, but these 10 are the most important starting points for your business. Now, let’s look at each quality individually.
1. SSL protection
SSL protection is a networking protocol that includes client authentication, server authentication, and encrypted communications between the two. That means whenever someone logs into your site or manages their account, everything is safely encrypted at all times.
In other words, no one could make sense of it if they stole or intercepted the information.
2. Full data encryption
While SSL protection deals with user and server encryption, you also need to encrypt any data you store.
This is also important with communications between users and servers, as you must encrypt all data during transmission to make sure people can’t read it if it’s intercepted.
3. Full data backup
Once you have information from your clients, you need to store the essentials and encrypt them as well. Basically, only one person should be able to see the information they submit to your site, and that’s the user.
If there’s a clear or obvious flaw in your backup storage security, you’re not adhering to HIPAA.
4. Permanent data deletion
HIPAA also mandates that you delete all data that’s no longer relevant to your business. So if you have a client who leaves your service for one of your competitors, you must permanently delete all of their information from your servers.
“Permanent” is a critical word here. If you delete someone’s information from your servers, you can’t have the opportunity to recover it. When someone leaves your company, their information permanently goes, too.
5. Restricted access
In a nutshell, restricted access means only your administrators can access administrative functions.
In addition, only a specific user can access their data, and they can only access their own data. Likewise, only your administrators can make changes to your site. This is especially critical since any minor change — even to a user’s profile — could constitute a breach of HIPAA’s strict regulations.
6. Regular password changes
Most of the time, this is just a good idea. But with HIPAA, it’s law.
Your administrators and users must regularly change their passwords to keep your data properly protected. Failure to regularly update or change passwords constitutes a breach of HIPAA’s standards.
7. Data breach protocol
Even if you have the most secure, top-of-the-line security on your site, you still need protocol for a data breach.
Establishing a contingency plan for compromised data ensures you can quickly neutralize a breach if it arises. It’s also a great way to show users that you’re prepared for anything.
Hopefully, you’ll never have a real data breach, but you need to have a plan and practice it in case a breach ever happens.
8. HIPAA compliance officer
A HIPAA compliance officer is someone you select to make sure your website is constantly up-to-date with any changes made to HIPAA.
That means they must be aware of HIPAA’s current laws, any potential upcoming laws, and which laws no longer apply. Your HIPAA compliance officer (or officers, if you have a big site) ensures you’re always compliant and your users’ data are always safe.
Without an appointed officer, you’re practically guaranteed to miss critical updates and fall short of HIPAA’s strict standards.
9. Published HIPAA policy online
Since you adhere to all HIPAA regulations, you need to say so on your site.
Doing this tells your users that you know the law, you adhere to the law, and that their information is always secure.
10. HIPAA business associate agreement with site host
As a HIPAA-compliant site, you must have business associate agreements with any vendors you use. That includes your site host.
This is the reason that a lot of site hosts won’t work with HIPAA-compliant websites. There’s a lot more work, regulation, and cost associated with a site that needs so much security.
As a result, you’ll almost definitely pay more for a HIPAA-compliant site than a standard site. But you need at least one with your site host if you want to succeed.
HIPAA-compliant web design FAQs
Got other questions about HIPAA compliance? Let’s answer theme here:
What is a HIPAA-compliant website?
A HIPAA-compliant website is a website with strict security measures to protect PHI in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It features SSL certificates, data encryption, access controls, and data deletion policies to ensure that patient data is protected from any unauthorized access.
Why do you need a HIPAA-compliant web design?
Healthcare organizations must have HIPAA-compliant websites to protect their patients’ information and privacy.
“A well-designed, HIPAA-compliant site improves user experience by ensuring patients can access their information securely and easily,” says Keeley Yeager, WebFX’s Senior Web Designer.
In addition, adhering to HIPAA’s standards for web design draws more patients because you foster trust among your audience. A spotless record of HIPAA compliance can make you stand out from your competition.
Expert insights from
Keeley YeagerWebFX’s Senior Web Designer
“[HIPAA compliance] builds trust by protecting sensitive data while offering a seamless, easy-to-use interface, which enhances patient satisfaction and engagement.”
A HIPAA-compliant web design also protects your organization from possible penalties from breaching the standards.
Why do you need a HIPAA-compliant web design checklist?
A HIPAA-compliant web design checklist is critical for healthcare organizations because it outlines the security measures you must adhere to. A checklist ensures you have all the required policies in place, HIPAA-compliant web forms, and plan of action should a data breach occur.
Create a HIPAA-compliant web design with WebFX today
If you’re a healthcare organization, it’s important to have a HIPAA-compliant web design to provide an excellent online experience for your audience and to keep their data secure.
If you need help creating HIPAA-compliant web forms and websites, consider teaming up with WebFX. We’re a full-service digital marketing agency with 29 years of experience designing and developing websites for various industries, including healthcare.
Our team is pumped to help you create a HIPAA-compliant website that delights your prospects and turns them into your loyal patients! Contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist!
