Emails have long been standard in the everyday working life of many companies, but in medicine, they remain a sensitive issue due to data protection regulations. Since the beginning of January, according to the Health Telematics Act, health data may no longer be sent by fax in Austria, leading to absolute chaos in communication. Many doctors and hospitals resort to insecure alternatives such as USB sticks or messengers, even though a simple, secure solution has long existed: encrypted emails.
Can patient data be sent securely via email?
The security of patient data is a top priority in medical practice. Physicians are legally obligated to ensure the privacy of their patients, especially when sending emails. Without the necessary security measures, emails can be intercepted or manipulated during transmission, which can lead to serious data breaches.
Health Telematics Act and GDPR – The Legal Basis
The Health Telematics Act (GTelG) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) established clear guidelines governing the secure handling of health data. The GTelG now prohibits the transmission of health data by fax to ensure the protection of this sensitive information. At the same time, the GDPR requires measures to protect personal data, particularly through encryption and digital signatures of emails. Failure to meet these requirements not only threatens severe penalties but also a loss of patient trust.
The solution: Encrypted emails with zertmail.
With zertmail, physicians and healthcare providers can ensure that their emails are sent in compliance with the GDPR and the German Telecommunications Act (GtelG). Email encryption ensures that patient data is protected during transmission and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. This transforms the “insecure” email into a data protection-compliant and secure communication solution.
Email encryption made easy
zertmail. offers a user-friendly solution that integrates seamlessly with common email programs such as Outlook or Apple Mail. The solution works with all common email programs and uses digital S/MIME certificates. Unlike many other solutions, zertmail. guarantees not only the confidentiality but also the integrity of the data, so that emails are not only protected but also arrive unchanged.
After a one-time installation, encrypted and digitally signed emails are sent automatically or via a Microsoft Outlook plug-in. This solution is particularly suitable for medical practices and small businesses seeking a cost-effective way to comply with the requirements of the German Telecommunications Act (GTelG) and the GDPR.
Conclusion: The simple path to secure communication
Instead of relying on expensive, complex systems, healthcare providers can securely encrypt their emails with zertmail. and meet the requirements of the Health Telematics Act and the GDPR. It’s time to end the communication chaos in the healthcare sector and rely on a simple, secure solution: encrypted emails.
