Secure electronic messaging

Secure Electronic Messaging

Secure Electronic Messaging is similar to emailing but with additional security benefits. Encryption software ‘locks’ the message content prior to sending electronically. The person receiving the message must have the same encryption software to ‘unlock’ the message once it has been received.

Standard email is not secure to send confidential information as it travels via the internet to arrive at its destination. During this journey it can be intercepted and read by unauthorised internet users. Secure electronic messaging software makes this impossible by encrypting all sent data, including the details of the sender and recipient.

The types of information that can be transferred may include referral letters, patient clinical summaries and prescriptions.

There are 2 components to Secure Electronic Messaging:

1. The electronic signature (PKI)
2. The encryption software

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is the security system that Medicare Australia is using to secure all its online systems. It allows transmissions to be electronically signed. These electronic signatures carry the same legal value as a written signature and therefore allow some transactions to be paperless, which means quicker and more accurate flow of important health information.

PKI comes in the form of a digital certificate. There are two types of digital certificate

Individual certificates allow someone to encrypt and exchange health-related messages electronically with other certificate subscribers. They also allow for electronic signing at the individual level, which provides a strong level of surety about the identity of the person sending the information.
Form downloads:
Application form
Referee form

Location certificates allow a number of people at the same location to encrypt, sign and exchange health-related messages electronically with other certificate subscribers. Signing a message using the location certificate confirms the location that the message came from, but not which individual.
Form downloads:
Application form
Referee form

Encryption Software
There are many software products which support secure electronic messaging. General Practice Queensland has secured a 2 year licence with Medical-Objects to provide a free secure messaging service to GPs, specialists and allied health professionals. This licence is valid until 30 June 2010. For more information regarding this contract, go to: http://www.gpqld.com.au/page/Programs/Information_Management/iHealth_Care_Implementation_Phase/iHealth_Care_Secure_Messaging/