OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Text messaging has become a popular way to communicate at home and in the office. Each year, more and more people send short messages to friends, family and colleagues. IDC expects that by the end of 2016, over 3.4 trillion messages will be sent per year. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0%*.

For those providing a healthcare service involving protected health information (PHI), sending a common text message may be a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and can lead to serious legal consequences.

Sprint has announced the availability of TigerText and Sprint Enterprise Messenger-Secure to address this challenge. This suite of solutions offers healthcare organizations a choice of services to address varying needs as they work to comply with HIPAA security standards and keep patient information flowing efficiently and securely.

TigerText is a leader in secure text messaging that meets HIPAA security standards for healthcare organizations. The company's secure enterprise communications solution, has been adopted in more than 1,000 healthcare facilities in 38 states. TigerText is a robust, cross-carrier mobile messaging platform that enables healthcare organizations to leverage the benefits of texting in accordance with HIPAA security standards.

“We are excited to work with Sprint to help bring secure messaging solutions to the healthcare industry,” said Brad Brooks, TigerText co-founder and president. “The growing challenge to improve communication while keeping patient information safe has led to an accelerated demand for TigerText’s messaging solutions.”

Sprint is also working with TeleMessage to offer a more cost-effective solution, Sprint Enterprise Messenger - Secure, which will enable healthcare professionals to send and receive text messages quickly and reliably, in a secure environment. Its affordability can make person-to-person communication a reality for healthcare organizations that are more price sensitive and do not require all of the advanced features of a more robust solution. Sprint Enterprise Messenger-Secure also has applications in other industries where data security is mission-critical.

“Sprint has a history and extensive experience within the healthcare industry,” said Julee Thompson-chief healthcare executive, Sprint. “Many hospitals are working hard to identify communication solutions. Sprint provides the wireless communication infrastructure to assure mission-critical and standard-based elements are in place so that healthcare providers can focus on service delivery.”

Concerns about compliance

HIPAA encompasses a wide-range of security and privacy measures related to protected health information whether in transit or storage. It applies to health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and any healthcare provider who handles personal health information. A person who knowingly obtains or discloses individually identifiable health information in violation of HIPAA may face civil or criminal penalties. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Sprint Network Vision

To support the growing need for data in healthcare and other industries, Sprint is rolling out a new 3G/4G network designed to provide faster data speeds, improved quality and easier connectivity. Sprint expects customers to benefit with better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage and fewer drops/blocks. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in 2012 and now offers service in 110 markets. For the most up-to-date information on Sprint’s 4G LTE coverage, please visit www.sprint.com/coverage.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About TigerText

TigerText is a leader in secure, real-time messaging for healthcare, enterprises, and individuals. TigerText allows healthcare providers and businesses to create a private and secure mobile messaging network with their own smartphone. More than 1,000 facilities have adopted TigerText, including leading organizations like Adventist Health, the University of Kentucky HealthCare, and Scottsdale Health Partners, which rely on TigerText to comply with industry standards. TigerText’s speed, compatibility and ease of use accelerate workflows, and improve employee satisfaction. For more information visit: www.tigertext.com or https://www.facebook.com/TigerText or twitter.com/tigertextapp.

*Source: IDC U.S. Mobile Messaging 2012-2016 Forecast: SMS, MMS, and the Role of Over-the-Top Messaging Applications, doc #236137, August 2012.