The Best Way to Prepare to Text Physician Orders

How We Got Here
Back in May 2016, the Joint Commission (JC) issued an update in their Perspectives publication describing their new position on allowing the secure texting of physician orders. (You can download a PDF of the update here.) This update reversed a position the JC laid out in 2011, “…stating that it is not acceptable for physicians […] to text orders for patient care, treatment, or services to the hospital or other health care settings.” The May 2016 update stated, “…effective immediately, the JC has revised its position on the transmission of orders for care, treatment and services via text messaging for all accreditation programs.” “…practitioners […] may text orders as long as a secure text messaging platform is used and the required components of an order are included.” (Emphasis in the original.)
While poorly organized and written, the update does describe a seemingly adequate process and set of requirements for the implementation of texting orders.
Since this update, numerous blog posts and news stories (examples here, here and here) have reported on the JC update. Most focused on a list of 6 secure messaging system requirements included in the Joint Commission update for safely sending secure text messages of doctor orders. Here’s the list, from the May update in Perspectives:

Secure sign-on process
Encrypted messaging
Delivery and read receipts
Date and time stamp
Customized me...

Source: Medical Connectivity Consulting - July 25, 2016 Category: Information Technology Authors: Tim Gee Tags: Messaging Middleware Mobile Health Secure Messaging Source Type: blogs