Kryptiq fights the HIPAA FUD

I asked to correspond via e-mail. She replied that "it would be unethical," then referred me to the phone.

If you want to know what one of the biggest money sinks is in medicine, on the consumer side, it's this. Doctors think privacy laws force them to engage in only synchronous, voice communications, so as not to let anyone's secrets slip.

Kryptiq has been fighting this FUD for years. During the HIMSS show I got a chance to sit down with its CEO, Luis Machuca (right).

Kryptiq gets around HIPAA by building systems that let professionals send messages securely, through the cloud, and also lets them exchange files in full compliance with the HIPAA law.

MuchacaMachuca said doctors are wonderful and business is great.

"Providers have realized they're not in the information hoarding business, but in the service business," he said. "Consumers have expectations, and that's changing behavior."

Tom Landholt, a Kryptiq customer from Springfield, Mo., agreed. "We don't play phone tag," he said. Kryptiq lets him work seamlessly with both of the large hospital networks in his town, and send secure messages to patients.

Muchaca Machuca is not just selling, Landholt said. Doctors are buying. Where you would once set up a meeting to talk to 40 physicians about electronic records and maybe 6 showed up, now you set up for 40 and 60 show up.

"Forget the $44,000" in sweet, sweet stimulus cash, he suggested. "Write a business plan. You tell me why you want a portal, or electronic records.

"Talk about the right issues. We can create medical communities again. I want data. Let me see it."

Not everyone has gotten the message yet, but more are getting it each day, MuchacaMachuca said. Be patient.

What choice do I have?