6 Best HIPAA friendly Data Collection Tools for Healthcare

As a healthcare provider, it’s crucial to treat every piece of patient data with the utmost care. With HIPAA regulations mandating the protection of any data linked to a patient's health, the stakes are high. Poorly designed data collection tools can lead to incomplete data collection and potential breaches, jeopardizing both patient safety and organizational integrity.

Today there are a quite lot of data collection tools available in the market, which is good in a way, as the increased competition has made everyone more informed about their healthcare choices. Patients now expect that any healthcare provider they interact with prioritizes HIPAA compliance and protects the data they share with them.

Consequently, healthcare providers are under great pressure to deliver secure services and treatments, not just to foster growth in an increasingly competitive environment and also to protect the trust in their organization.

PHI Data Breach Threats

Healthcare organizations face numerous threats regarding PHI data breaches. Cyberattacks, phishing schemes, and inadequate security measures can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. Understanding these threats is vital for implementing effective data collection strategies.

Why HIPAA Regulations Matter

HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient information. Compliance with these regulations is essential to safeguard patient privacy and avoid severe penalties associated with data breaches.

With the stakes so high, selecting HIPAA friendly tools for data collection is essential to secure the PHI. Below, we delve into the 6 best options that empower healthcare providers to gather sensitive information securely while adhering to regulatory standards.

#1 BlockSurvey

When it comes to collecting sensitive healthcare data securely and in compliance with regulations, BlockSurvey stands out as a top choice. The platform offers a range of HIPAA-compliant forms and surveys, making it easier for healthcare providers to gather essential patient information without compromising security.

HIPAA-Friendly Features of BlockSurvey

BlockSurvey is equipped with several compelling features that make it ideal for running HIPAA-compliant surveys:

• End-to-End Encryption: All data collected through BlockSurvey is fully encrypted both during transit and at rest, ensuring that you maintain complete control over your data. Even BlockSurvey itself cannot access your information.
• Business Associate Agreement (BAA): BlockSurvey signs a BAA with customers on its yearly premium and team plans, clarifying that you retain ownership and control of the data you collect while using the platform.
• Anonymous Seal: This feature restricts the collection of personally identifiable information (PII). When activated, it ensures no PII is collected, providing an additional layer of privacy for respondents.
• No Third-Party Analytics: BlockSurvey includes built-in analytics features, eliminating the need for third-party products to analyze your data. Ai-powered survey analysis of BlockSurvey can reduce cost and time spend by almost 80%.

Additionally, BlockSurvey offers over 1,000 pre-built templates to simplify your data collection process, including essential forms like the HIPAA Acknowledgement Form and the HIPAA Confidentiality Agreement Form.

G2 Rating: 4.8 out of 5

#2 Cognito Forms

Cognito Forms is a tool designed for healthcare professionals seeking HIPAA compliance in their data collection processes. With the ability to create secure medical forms for patient registrations, appointment scheduling, refill requests, and more, Cognito Forms ensures that sensitive information is handled with care. By establishing a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), users can confidently collect and store Protected Health Information (PHI) while adhering to HIPAA regulations.

Key Features

• HIPAA Compliance: Offers business associate agreements for secure data handling.
• Data Encryption: All forms are encrypted at rest to protect sensitive information.
• User Support: Standard email support for form-related issues and template sharing.

G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5

#3 FormDr

FormDr simplifies HIPAA compliance for healthcare providers by offering secure online forms designed to protect sensitive patient information. With a focus on transparency, FormDr provides a comprehensive approach to security, ensuring that all data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Their platform allows healthcare organizations to inherit the extensive work done on audits, making compliance straightforward and efficient.

Key Features

• Minimum Necessary Access: Access controls default to no access, enhancing data security.
• System Access Tracking: Tracks all access requests and changes, retaining a detailed history.
• PHI Segmentation: Customer data is segmented, with dedicated overlay networks for added security.
• Monitoring: Logs all network requests and alerts based on suspicious activity.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5

#4 FormStack

Formstack is a cloud-based productivity platform that simplifies HIPAA compliance by providing secure document signing and form creation options. Users can explore its features through a 14-day trial, allowing them to experience the intuitive form builder that caters specifically to healthcare needs.

Key Features

• Custom URLs: Create branded links to enhance customer trust and security.
• Conditional Logic: Forms adapt based on user input for a personalized experience.
• Electronic Signatures: Securely collect electronic signatures for documents.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5

#5 NexHealth

NexHealth is an API-driven patient experience platform designed to streamline communication between healthcare organizations and their patients. Offering features such as scheduling, secure billing, and forms, NexHealth simplifies the process of collecting patient information while ensuring HIPAA compliance.

Key Features

• Digital Form Conversion: Easily digitizes existing paper forms for online use.
• Pre-Built Templates: Access templates specifically designed to collect essential patient information.
• Auto-Syncing: Responses automatically sync with health record systems for seamless data integration.
• User Experience: Focuses on ease of use with pre-built templates, allowing patients to complete forms on mobile or desktop devices.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

#6 Jotform

JotForm makes building HIPAA-compliant forms a breeze, requiring just a few minutes and no technical skills. With a simple click, users can add various question fields to their forms, streamlining the data collection process for healthcare providers.

Key Features

• Consent Forms: Customize medical forms to obtain informed consent with electronic signatures.
• Payment Collection: Embed payment forms for secure online bill payments through processors like Square and Stripe.
• System Integrations: Seamlessly connect with tools like Google Sheets for organized patient data management.
• Secure Data Storage: Automatically encrypts form data to ensure patient privacy and compliance with HIPAA regulations. A signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is provided for added protection.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5

To wrap it up

In conclusion, as healthcare providers, the responsibility of safeguarding patient data is very crucial. With HIPAA regulations in place, choosing the right tools for data collection is essential to ensure compliance and maintain patient trust.

BlockSurvey stands out as your best choice offering robust privacy features along with HIPAA compliance, to protect your healthcare data from potential breaches.

To see how BlockSurvey can enhance your data collection processes, you can Book a demo today. Let’s work together to protect patient privacy and elevate your practice's data security!