Beyond Basic Email Security: How Visions Case Management Protects Patient Data with Virtru

For nearly three decades, Visions Case Management has been a cornerstone of healthcare support across New Mexico. From Albuquerque to Taos, their team of case managers and guardians provides critical services through DD Waiver, Mi Via Waiver, Turquoise Care, and Corporate Guardianship programs. In an industry where data privacy isn't just a requirement but a fundamental promise to patients, they needed security that wouldn't slow them down.

The Breaking Point

The Visions team was hitting a wall with their CISCO encryption system.

"CISCO was our go-to for a long time, but it was really bad," Charles Clayton, Managing Director, recalls. They faced a common healthcare IT dilemma: balancing HIPAA-compliant data security in Gmail with practical usability.

Their case managers needed to share sensitive information daily, but clunky security measures were creating friction in their workflows.

The Virtru Solution: Security Without Sacrifice

1. Streamlined Communication Across New Mexico: Visions' case managers work across multiple communities, from Espanola to Las Vegas, requiring constant secure communication with clients and stakeholders. Virtru integrates directly into their existing Gmail workflow, allowing the team to send protected information as easily as regular email. This seamless integration meant Visions could transition from their problematic CISCO system without disrupting their statewide operations.
2. Protected Health Information Under Complete Control: Given the sensitive nature of their DD Waiver and Corporate Guardianship services, Visions needed ironclad security with flexibility. Virtru's end-to-end encryption ensures that client information stays confidential, while features like message revocation and expiration dates give case managers precise control over sensitive data. When sharing detailed client assessments or medical information, the team can now set specific access periods and revoke access if needed – essential for maintaining HIPAA compliance across their various programs.
3. Simplified External Collaboration: A significant portion of Visions' work involves coordinating with external healthcare providers, families, and guardians. With their previous system, this meant managing complicated portals and login credentials. Virtru eliminated these barriers – recipients can now securely access encrypted messages without creating new accounts or remembering additional passwords.

Real-World Impact

For an organization serving vulnerable individuals and their families across multiple communities, trust isn't negotiable. The Virtru solution enables the Visions team to share sensitive client information instantly and securely while maintaining complete control over their data access and duration.

They’ve strengthened their HIPAA compliance email requirements effortlessly, allowing them to focus on what matters most: patient care.

The Bottom Line

When asked what he would tell other healthcare organizations considering Virtru, Clayton cuts to the chase: "It's easy to use on both ends, support is responsive when you need them, and it's cost-effective."

For Visions Case Management, the choice has paid off. Their team can now handle sensitive communications with confidence, knowing they have both the security and usability they need to serve their communities effectively.