Nonrepudiation controls are security measures that ensure individuals cannot deny responsibility for their actions or communications in a system. In healthcare, this provides a verified audit log of communications related to critical functions within the organization, which may be used for legal purposes in the future.
Understanding nonrepudiation controls
Nonrepudiation controls consist of security measures for maintaining accountability by providing irrefutable evidence of data exchanges like the sender's identity, message integrity, and proof of receipt.
According to FirstMonday, “The general rule of evidence is that if a person denies a particular signature then it falls upon the relying party to prove that the signature is truly that of the person denying it.” Nonrepudiation allows for organizations to build an evidence base to prove an individual's signature or consent.
Common nonrepudiation techniques:
- Digital signatures
- Secure messaging systems
- Access control lists
- Biometric authentication
- Patient consent forms
- HIPAA compliant text messaging read receipts
Nonrepudiation controls that can be used in healthcare communications
Digital signatures:
- Use cryptographic techniques to verify the authenticity of messages to ensure that the sender cannot deny having sent the message.
- Digital signatures also ensure that the message cannot be altered.
Message logging and retention:
- Maintain detailed communication logs, including timestamps, sender and recipient details, and message content.
User access controls:
- Establish strict user permissions based on staff member's roles and responsibilities.
- Ensure that only authorized personnel can access or send sensitive information.
Patient consent verification:
- Requires explicit patient consent for text messaging and email communications.
- Document the agreement.
Read receipts and delivery confirmation:
- Use features that confirm when a message has been delivered like Paubox Text messaging read receipts.
Encrypt metadata:
Related: Access control systems in healthcare
FAQs
How does read receipts work?
Read receipts work by sending an automatic notification to the sender once the recipient has opened or viewed the message.
What is the purpose behind nonrepudiation?
It ensures that individuals cannot deny their involvement in communication or a transaction.
What are access controls?
A mechanism that regulates who can view, send, or modify information based on predefined permissions.
Kirsten Peremore
