HIPAA Compliance
Jun 4, 2025
Inside Clara
Regulation
HIPAA Compliance in Clara
A structured approach to patient data security
Clara is designed for clinical use. That means it must operate under strict security and privacy requirements. One of the most critical is compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Here’s a summary of the key updates we’ve implemented to meet these standards across our product.
1. Authentication Security
We strengthened access to the system to reduce the risk of unauthorized entry.
Strong passwords: Now require at least 8 characters, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Passwords cannot be reused and are checked against breach databases.
Two-factor authentication (2FA): Required for all users handling protected health information (PHI). Options include SMS, authentication apps, or biometric methods.
Automatic session timeout: Sessions close after periods of inactivity to prevent unintentional data exposure.
2. Data Protection
All sensitive information must remain encrypted and protected at all times.
Encrypted in transit: All data transfers use HTTPS with TLS 1.2 or higher.
Encrypted at rest: Locally stored information is now encrypted using secure storage methods.
Secure headers and storage policies: Prevent unauthorized scripts and data access in the browser.
3. Logging and Audit Trails
Every interaction involving PHI is logged and traceable.
Access logs: We record access to patient data with timestamps and user IDs.
Change logs: Any modification to clinical records is tracked and auditable.
Authentication attempts: Both successful and failed logins are monitored.
No log captures identifiable health data unless strictly required for investigation.
4. Role-Based Access
Not all users see the same information. Clara applies the principle of least privilege.
Granular permissions: Roles include physician, assistant, administrator, and others.
Sensitive component protection: Access to specific modules is gated based on user type and role.
Audit protection: Only authorized personnel can view or manage audit data.
5. Form and Input Security
User input is a critical vector for data integrity and security.
Sanitized input fields: All user input is cleaned and validated to prevent code injection.
HTML security: HTML content is sanitized before rendering in the interface.
Anti-CSRF tokens: Every request is validated to ensure origin authenticity.
6. Interface Safeguards
We’ve taken steps to prevent accidental exposure of information during clinical use.
Screen lock: Automatically activates after inactivity or user step-away.
Privacy overlays: Hide patient data when not in active use.
Browser restrictions: Disables right click and other actions to reduce exposure risk.
7. Secure Communications
Emails and external communication are tightly controlled.
Encrypted emails: All email content containing PHI is encrypted by default.
Recipient validation: Additional safeguards ensure sensitive information only reaches intended recipients.
Secure delivery: Users are notified once the message is safely delivered.
Final Notes
HIPAA compliance is not a feature. It’s a foundation.
At Clara, we treat clinical documentation with the same responsibility expected from any medical tool. This update is part of our ongoing effort to meet and exceed the standards of care and security required in clinical settings.
If you’re a healthcare provider or IT administrator and need more detail on technical implementation, contact our support team here.