Text Messaging and Protected Health Information: What Is Permitted? | Ethics | JAMA | JAMA Network

T he first short message service (SMS) “text message” was sent in 1992 from a computer to a mobile phone. It read: “Merry Christmas.” Since then, mobile-to-mobile SMS has become one of the most popular means of electronic communication worldwide, with more than 20 billion messages transmitted daily. In a 2013 survey of 2076 US adults, 91% reported owning a cellular phone, and 81% reported using their device for texting—making SMS the most commonly used mobile application.1 Not surprisingly, several small studies including 45 resident and 28 faculty general surgeons and 97 pediatrics hospitalists found that more than half (60%-80%) of physicians use text messaging for clinical communications.2,3 However, there is little guidance regarding appropriate use of this technology in the health care setting. In addition, some physicians may have the misconception that text messaging of protected health information is prohibited by law. Legal Protection of Health Information In the United States

T he first short message service (SMS) “text message” was sent in 1992 from a computer to a mobile phone. It read: “Merry Christmas.” Since then, mobile-to-mobile SMS has become one of the most popular means of electronic communication worldwide, with more than 20 billion messages transmitted daily. In a 2013 survey of 2076 US adults, 91% reported owning a cellular phone, and 81% reported using their device for texting—making SMS the most commonly used mobile application.1 Not surprisingly, several small studies including 45 resident and 28 faculty general surgeons and 97 pediatrics hospitalis