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#85892 - 11/27/07 12:45 PM
Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
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mezz
Member
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 173
Loc: massachusetts
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Hi,
I have a question and I'm not sure if there is such a thing...background - I have a new client and I pick up mini tapes 3 times a week and return work at the same time - so 48 hour turnaround....they asked me today if I could do 24-hour. I can't because of a part-time office job. The work is typed on Tues., Thurs, and on the weekend, however I work my office job on Mon. Wed. and Fri so I can't drop off the completed work until after I leave there. I was wondering if there is a way I can e-mail them the work securely? They have asked me multiple times to send the work via e-mail and I don't like doing this. I have told them only in emergencies and then just for one patient; not an entire day's worth of dictation. They just opened this office about two months ago and are still learning. I don't want to lose this account. I told the OM that the doc would have to pay me 3 times the price I get now to give him 24-hour turnaround because I would have to quit my office job. B-T-W they knew about my office job when they hired me as an IC.....any advice is greatly appreciated....OM said she knew 24 hour turnaround was alot to ask and was just asking me so she could tell the doc she did. I don't think she cares, but the doc is the one who signs my check. I did a search here and only came up with programs for voice files....I am hoping that there is a program out there for situations like this???? Am I dreaming???? I know I'm confused and not sure what to do.
Thanks!
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Mezz
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#85893 - 11/27/07 12:54 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mezz]
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shipaddict
Member
Registered: 10/15/07
Posts: 150
Loc: Katy TX
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Hypersend is secure and would be free in your case -- I think you get 100 sends per month for free. check them out at hypersend.com . It's easy and works just like email, but both of you would need to install a small file on your computers.
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#85896 - 11/27/07 01:03 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mezz]
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Doug Jones
Member
Registered: 04/29/00
Posts: 1381
Loc: Indian Lake, NY
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Yes, you can secure e-mail, but it requires both parties to commit to it. One of the oldest, and still among the best methods is to encrypt the message using a private/public key system, like PGP.
There are a number of other products out there, do a Google Search on email encryption. However, there is a good guide here.
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#85898 - 11/27/07 01:07 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: Doug Jones]
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mezz
Member
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 173
Loc: massachusetts
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Hooray!! I'm not dreaming! Thanks so much for your help....I will look into all of the suggestions and pick the one that best fits my needs and the doctor's. I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon!
Edit - I just thought of something....do I charge extra because now they will get their work in 24 hours? How much work is it to use the program vs. sending a regular e-mail? Thanks!!
Edited by mezz (11/27/07 01:10 PM)
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Mezz
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#85903 - 11/27/07 01:25 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mezz]
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huntersmom
Member
Registered: 11/19/02
Posts: 275
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I'm not sure about charging extra for a TAT of 24 hours but hypersend is just as easy to use as e-mail - only it's secure. It has an address book just like regular e-mail and you just click on the hypersend address you want to send it too, attach the file, click send and voila - the file is sent - simple as that.:)
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huntersmom
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#85904 - 11/27/07 01:33 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: huntersmom]
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mezz
Member
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 173
Loc: massachusetts
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That's great! Thanks!
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Mezz
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#85909 - 11/27/07 02:04 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mezz]
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Doug Jones
Member
Registered: 04/29/00
Posts: 1381
Loc: Indian Lake, NY
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How much work is it to use the program vs. sending a regular e-mail?
Almost no extra work, just the slight effort of encrypting the document. As to whether you want to charge more for a faster TAT, that is up to you. 
PGP, and products like it use a public/private key system. You might compare it to a bank's night deposit box, where the exterior drop point has a key, and the interior side has a different key. Any number of people can have a key to the exterior (the "public" key), but only the person authorized to open the box inside the bank has the key to that side (the "private" key). You would give the doctor's office your public key, which they would use to encrypt the message. Only you, using your private key can decrypt it. The same process works when you're sending them work - you would use their public key to encrypt it, and only they can decrypt it using their private key. It's also handy for any other mail communications you want to keep private. 
The best part is that it's free. 
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#86486 - 12/06/07 02:00 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: Doug Jones]
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mezz
Member
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 173
Loc: massachusetts
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Doug,
Thanks for responding.....I have been out straight and have just come back to the site...I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. I am off to do some research.....have a wonderful afternoon!
Mezz
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Mezz
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#86507 - 12/06/07 06:01 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: Doug Jones]
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14tonks
Member
Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 6967
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
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Almost no extra work, just the slight effort of encrypting the document.
Almost no extra work for you or me, Doug, but doctors and their staff tend to see it as a tremendous extra task. I considered and discarded PGP and e-mail very early on. Not only are there constant problems with timely delivery, file sizes, and mailbox sizes with an e-mail delivery system, but virtually no medical office I have encountered has physicians or staff who are capable of installing and configuring their end of a PGP communication system. That means on-site visits to set it up on any needed computers and return visits every time a computer is replaced. (Since no one knows how to keep a computer tuned, keep malware off it, or make backups in most medical offices, and the solution to a computer with problems is usually just to buy a new computer, that can add up to a lot of additional on-site visits over the years.)
My conclusion has been that encrypted e-mail will be a feasible system for most medical offices when and only when the default e-mail client in standard off-the-shelf computers comes with encryption software preinstalled and configured. Until then, it's just an unnecessary pain in the posterior for the MTSO to try to support in my book. There are simpler online options that handle encryption transparently to the user and require no software installation. That's become my bottom line for a file exchange system these days, at least one to be used by the digitally hopeless and helpless inhabiting medical practices.
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#106577 - 08/07/08 04:41 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mezz]
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mt2
New Member
Registered: 01/26/06
Posts: 12
Loc: PA
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I know that this is subject is an old post, but I have a question on how to securely get work sent from the doctor office directly to me digitally. In other words, I want to go all digital instead of using tapes, so I am trying to find an inexpensive (though I do like the word FREE...lol) way to do this without causing more drama to the medical office staff and myself. Can anyone make suggestions on what they use to send/receive files digitally that can help, whether it is via e-mail, FTP, etc. I just need a SECURE way to do this to keep things HIPPA compliant. Thanks for any and all help.
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#106913 - 08/09/08 06:55 AM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: mt2]
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BizzeeMT
Member
Registered: 07/23/01
Posts: 1227
Loc: Midwest
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There are so many ways to do this - my top 2 choices (biased based on experience) are Bytescribe and MetroScript. Neither are free but both are secure. I am sure a search on this site, as well as a google search, will bring up several other options, and others will also chime in with additional suggestions.
Edited by BizzeeMT (08/09/08 06:56 AM)
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For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me." — Winnie the Pooh
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#107021 - 08/09/08 10:03 PM
Re: Secure e-mail....is there such a thing?
[Re: BizzeeMT]
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mt2
New Member
Registered: 01/26/06
Posts: 12
Loc: PA
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THANK you so much for your response. I just received an e-mail naming the same 2 companies, so I am DEFINITELY looking into them both. Again, thanks for your reply! It is GREATLY appreciated! :o)
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Stacy
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