Can I use a BlackBerry with your email service?
BlackBerry email apps are not supported and are not HIPAA compliant. Use iPhone or Android.
The BlackBerry Email Application is not supported and is not a HIPAA compliant option.
Why
EnGuard does not run Microsoft Exchange Server with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) at our facility, so a BlackBerry cannot connect directly to our servers. Instead, the servers at Research In Motion Limited (RIM) act as IMAP/POP and SMTP proxies for the phone using BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). All your incoming and outgoing email goes through RIM's servers in Canada before it reaches ours. For us to stay HIPAA compliant, RIM would need to sign a Business Associate Agreement with us, and they declined.
The HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule each require all electronic communications, even for a nanosecond, to be fully compliant. So we do not support BlackBerry devices over BIS with our email service. Letting customers send and receive PHI this way would be willful negligence and a HIPAA violation. For the penalties, see What are the penalties for not being HIPAA compliant?
What you can do
- You can use our mobile webmail in the BlackBerry web browser with no compliance concern.
- We strongly advise all covered entities to stop using the BlackBerry built-in email app for PHI over BlackBerry Internet Services. That includes health care providers, doctors, clinics, psychologists, dentists, chiropractors, nursing homes, pharmacies, health insurance companies, hospitals, billing services and any other entity held to HIPAA.
- We recommend iPhone or Android. They connect directly to our servers through their native Mail or Email apps.