Using FaceTime for Online Therapy

UPDATE: August 5, 2013 with thanks to Roy Huggins, MS NCC for a fab update!

iPhones, iPads and HIPAA-Compliant Practice: Locking Down Your Apple Device

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We have received many inquiries about whether or not FaceTime is suitable for online therapy, and of course in the U.S. the question about HIPAA always comes up.

We are posting relevant articles here so that you can become more informed about the use of FaceTime.

Many report FaceTime as the highest quality video conferencing application available. You can use FaceTime on your Mac computer, or on your later generation iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. (The hand-held i-Devices DO need to have a built-in camera). You will need an apple account, which you likely have already if you’re a Mac customer and the FaceTime app, which costs 99 cents. You’ll install the app, and it should open up on your phone or comupter right away.

As always, prepare for the work. Be sure you and your client are in confidential and quiet locations when engaging in a video session.

FaceTime calls are encrypted; and HIPAA compliant when using proper encryption

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/facetime-calls-are-encrypted-and-hipaa-compliant-when-using-proper-encryption/11166 .

FaceTime is HIPAA compliant and encrypted, could change the way physicians and patients communicate

http://www.imedicalapps.com/2011/09/facetime-hipaacompliant-encrypted-avenue-telemedicine/?goback=%2Egmp_2246364%2Egde_2246364_member_109664643

Apple FaceTime May Be HIPAA Secure

http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/mobile-wireless/231900634

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