Joint Commission prohibits secure texting of patient orders

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission in December banned the use of secure text messaging to transmit patient orders, the January 9 Becker’s Infection Control & Clinical Quality reports.

The Joint Commission collaborated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make the following recommendations:

• Healthcare facilities are prohibited from using unsecured text messaging for sharing protected health information.
• Computerized order entry is the preferred method for submitting orders, which permits direct entry of orders into the electronic health record (EHR).
• If a computerized or written order cannot be delivered, a verbal communication is acceptable, but verbal orders should be used sparingly and monitored closely.
• Secure text messaging is prohibited for the transmission of patient orders.

The Joint Commission and CMS note that some reasons for the ban of secure texting are that it could result in an increased burden on nurses to enter text orders into the EHR, and the process does not allow for real-time conformation of the order.

In its most recent update on the practice, the Joint Commission banned the use of secure text messaging to transmit patient care orders. The organization has been wrestling with the issue since 2011, when the commission determined the technology available for text messaging was not secure enough to safely permit the practice.