expertise in Libya following the coun- try’s revolution. Dr. Gueramy performed many amputations, and DocbookMD allowed him to consult with Texas phy- sicians on the more difficult cases he encountered. He sent x-rays and other images to Austin trauma experts, who responded with treatment recommen- dations within minutes. The experience of using DocbookMD overseas expand- ed the couple’s view of what their app could become and other ways it could strengthen and support the medical pro- fessional community. Austin King, MD, a member of the TMA Board of Trustees and an Abilene otolaryngologist, has used DocbookMD for more than a year. Dr. King is a mem- ber of the Taylor-Jones-Haskell-Callahan County Medical Society, which was an early adopter of DocbookMD. “As a physician working in a semirural
area, I really appreciate the app’s ability to connect me to other physicians many miles away and to do it in a way that’s HIPAA-compliant,” he said. According to Dr. King, about 25 per- cent of the county medical society’s members currently uses the app. “We’re trying to get more of our mem- ber physicians to use DocbookMD by promoting it at meetings. We’re also thinking about having some technology experts attend a meeting so they can demonstrate how to download the app onto smartphones,” Dr. King said.
Secure communication Using DocbookMD, physicians can send text messages instantly while complying with HIPAA.
The DocbookMD website lists four major HIPAA security criteria mobile apps must meet:
• There must be a termination proce- dure that allows rapid removal of pro- tected health information (PHI) from the device or rapid termination of ac- cess to PHI. DocbookMD can remotely shut down access to the app and any data containing PHI when a physician reports the device lost or stolen.
• Access to the device containing PHI must be limited. DocbookMD encour- ages physicians to keep their devices
How to get DocbookMD
To get more information about DocbookMD, visit the Docbook- MD website,
http://docbookmd.com. You can download the DocbookMD mobile app on the TMA website at www.texmed
.org/docbookmd. To obtain the necessary credentialing data to start using DocbookMD, call your county medical society or contact the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955 or (512) 370-1550 or
knowledge@texmed.org.
November 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 55
safe and to password protect their phones and tablets.
• PHI must be encrypted based on the highest encryption standards avail- able. Secure encryption must be con- tinually tested. The DocbookMD web- site says DocbookMD uses 256-bit encryption for all PHI on the device, server, and during transmission.
• Any device that contains PHI must have a backup and recovery proce- dure. DocbookMD has data backup procedures and a disaster recovery plan if a device or PHI is lost. Servers also have these systems and emergen- cy recovery procedures.
All physician users of DocbookMD must sign a HIPAA business agreement, which specifies the company’s data pro- tection policy and the responsibilities of all parties to ensure confidentiality of patient information. As HIPAA-covered entities, users of the app must abide by HIPAA and Health Information Technol- ogy for Economic and Clinical Health Act rules, including privacy and security rules. To read the DocbookMD HIPAA business agreement, visit http://doc
bookmd.com/hipaa/compliancy.
Physicians, patients benefit Dr. King has reaped many benefits from using DocbookMD. He says before the app, it took two to three days to tran- scribe and fax his dictation to another
physician. Now he can send it immedi- ately via secure messaging.
And the app helps him deliver more efficient patient care.
“I was at a meeting outside Abilene
and received a call from a patient who was having bleeding following a tonsil- lectomy. Using DocbookMD, I was able to contact the physician covering for me right away, share the patient’s medical information, and ensure the patient re- ceived urgently needed medical care im- mediately,” Dr. King said.
Cristie Columbus, MD, an infectious disease specialist, says she uses the app for its pharmacy search function and secure messaging with referring and consulting physicians. Dr. Columbus is assistant director of graduate medical education at Baylor University Medical Center. “At Baylor, we provide our residents Dallas County Medical Society member- ship, thus giving them access to Doc- bookMD. I am an advocate for residents’ use of the secure messaging function as a means of HIPAA-compliant communi- cation regarding patients,” she said. Dr. King recommends DocbookMD to physicians who haven’t yet used the app. “It’s a great way to transmit informa- tion immediately in a secure fashion, and I look forward to the development of even more sophisticated applications and features,” he said.
Over the next few months, Dr. Guer-
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