Is Google Forms HIPAA compliant?

In a healthcare setting, Google Forms could serve both telehealth and in-person care effectively. For telehealth, it could be used to collect patient history, feedback, or to conduct health surveys. In an in-person care environment, Google Forms can streamline administrative tasks such as patient intake forms, satisfaction surveys, or data collection for research purposes. The ability to easily analyze responses in Google Sheets further adds to the efficiency of data management.

Google Forms is covered under Google Workspace's HIPAA compliance umbrella, given that it is used in compliance with Google's guidelines for handling PHI (Protected Health Information). Google is willing to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), which is a critical requirement for a product to be considered HIPAA compliant. However, it is important to note that while Google Forms as a tool can be used in a HIPAA compliant manner, ensuring compliance is ultimately up to the user's correct usage of the tool, following all necessary security measures. More details on Google Workspace's HIPAA compliance can be found in Google's HIPAA Compliance Guide.

Take a look at our ultimate guide to HIPAA compliant software and services for help selecting compliant service providers. Though careful vendor evaluation and selection is only one piece of the puzzle for maintaining HIPAA compliance. At TeachMeHIPAA, we offer an affordable HIPAA training solution to ensure your staff are knowledgeable in how to comply, and to help you meet your legally mandated HIPAA training requirement with ease. Learn more about our tips and tricks for maintaining compliance with our HIPAA compliance blog.