Direct Secure Messaging

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Direct Secure Messaging system (Direct) is a secure, web-based messaging service, specifically designed to meet the CHIT 2015 21st Century Cures Update requirements for transmitting and receiving Protected Health Information/Personally Identifiable Information (PHI/PII) electronically. It is intended to eliminate and reduce the use of fax services, couriers, and postal mails that involve the inherent risks of information being misplaced, compromised, or accessed by unauthorized users. Direct Secure Messaging is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant and integrated with applicable systems, such as Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Personal Health Record (PHR), to provide an easy way for registered healthcare providers, patients, and patients' personal representatives to securely share PHI/PII electronically.

Direct Secure Messaging Use Cases

Direct Secure Messaging will include exchanges between the Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban healthcare providers, patients and/or their personal representatives, and other IHS Health Information Service Provider (HISP) trusted Direct partners. The use cases are as follow:

Federal providers ←→ Federal providers

Federal providers ←→ Non-Federal providers

Federal providers ←→ Patients and/or their personal representatives

Non-Federal providers ←→ Patients and/or their personal representatives

Direct Secure Messaging Access

Healthcare providers should contact their Service Unit/Facility administrator for Direct Secure Messaging access and more information.

Patients and/or their personal representatives will access Direct Secure Messaging through their Personal Health Record (PHR) accounts. For access and more information, contact your facility PHR Registrar.