Transitory communications (e.g. request to meet) do not require secure transmission if they do not contain information that might identify a patient. Non-transitory communications about patients and the care they receive (e.g., patient instructions) must be protected and recorded or referenced in the record of care.
Clinicians interacting with patients via email or messaging systems should use the most secure and integrated system available:
- Connect Care Messaging
- Use messaging solutions within Connect Care when both sender and recipient have access. This includes clinicians who do not use Connect Care as the record of care but have access to the Provider Portal.
- AHS Secure E-Mail
- If both sender and receiver have AHS email addresses (@albertahealthservices.ca or @ahs.ca or @covenanthealth.ca or @albertapprecisionlabs.ca), then clinical communications can be securely sent and received using AHS email.
- If the sender has an AHS email address but the receiver does not, then add “!Private” to the subject line so the email message is encrypted.
- External Approved Solution
- If none of the above are appropriate for clinical communication, consider use of an external clinical secure messaging solution that meets Health Information Act requirements. Some have been approved for use with AHS records, to be replaced when Connect Care and its patient portal are fully implemented province-wide.
- An instance of the BrightSquid secure messaging system, "MHR Secure Mail", is available to Alberta physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic at no cost and can be used when no other AHS-provisioned system is available or appropriate.
We will update the Connect Care physician manual as secure communication options evolve in Alberta.