Every video call where your staff discusses patient cases must be HIPAA-compliant.
Choosing a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform is about finding one your team will actually use, that fits how your medical practices run day-to-day, and that keeps you protected when a HIPAA auditor comes knocking.
Here are five platforms worth considering, along with what makes each one a fit (or not) for your practice.
What to Look for Before You Pick a Video Conferencing Platform
Before getting into the list, here's the decision foundation that matters:
● A signed BAA
This is non-negotiable. A BAA is a written agreement that makes the vendor legally responsible for protecting any patient information that passes through their platform. No BAA means no HIPAA compliance, full stop, regardless of what the vendor's website says about “security.”
● Mobile access. Healthcare teams need something that works just as well on a mobile as it does on a desktop, whether they're moving between rooms, covering a shift, or stepping away from a workstation.
If the video conferencing platform is clunky on mobile, your team won't use it. They'll go back to personal messaging apps that aren't HIPAA compliant.
● Admin control
You need to control exactly who can see and do what, such as who can download files or who can start a group chat.
● Multi-location support
If your medical practice operates in multiple locations, your platform needs to keep up. The right people at the right location should see the right information without messages being circulated all over teams that don't need them.
● One work chat app for everything
Your team shouldn't have to jump between a messaging app and a separate video platform to communicate. One work chat app that handles both keeps things simple, reduces the chance of staff defaulting to personal apps, and means compliance isn't just for one part of the conversation.
If a video conferencing platform can't check all of these boxes, it creates gaps, and gaps are where HIPAA violations happen.
The 5 Video Conferencing Platforms for Medical Practices
Each of these platforms offers video conferencing alongside other communication features, but they're built for different organizational needs. Here's what to know about each one.
1. Zenzap
Zenzap is a HIPAA-compliant work chat app with built-in video and voice calls, designed for healthcare teams. Because calls happen directly inside the platform, they're covered by the same protections as everything else in your workspace.
Pros
● BAA signed with every healthcare organization as a standard part of onboarding
● Start a video or voice call directly from any chat
● External guests can join calls from a browser link with no Zenzap account required
● Business-controlled secure cloud storage; nothing is saved to personal devices
● Ability to control who can see and do what
● One-click offboarding to remove access instantly across the entire workspace when someone leaves
● Multi-location support so the right people at the right location see only what's relevant to them
● Up to 10x more cost-effective than legacy healthcare communication tools
What to Consider
Zenzap is a team communication app, designed to work alongside your existing tools for HR, scheduling, and clinical workflows, not replace them.
2. TigerConnect
TigerConnect is a team communication app built for large hospitals and enterprise healthcare networks.
Pros
● Patient engagement
● Voice and video
● Secure messaging
What to Consider
TigerConnect is a healthcare communication platform that covers the compliance basics. However, it's been around for over 15 years, and the interface reflects that. The feature set can feel complex for teams that just need a straightforward way to communicate, and at up to $30 per user per month, it's one of the pricier options on this list.
Teams that find TigerConnect difficult to navigate tend to work around it, which defeats the purpose of having a compliant platform in the first place.
3. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and team communication platform built for organizations already using Microsoft 365.
Pros
● Familiar to staff already using Microsoft 365
● Video meetings
● File sharing
What to Consider
Microsoft Teams is a communication platform for organizations already running on Microsoft 365. However, it wasn't built with healthcare in mind. Getting it to a HIPAA-compliant state requires a higher-tier plan and IT configuration that needs ongoing maintenance.
The mobile experience can also feel clunky for frontline staff who need to move fast between rooms and shifts, making it a better fit for scheduled meetings and document collaboration than day-to-day team communication.
4. Slack
Slack is a team communication platform built for highly technical teams.
Pros
● Complex automations and workflows
● Voice and video calls
● Flexible channel structure
What to Consider
Slack is a team communication platform with a flexible structure and automation features. However, it wasn't built for healthcare, and HIPAA compliance is only available on higher-tier plans.
Medical teams without a technical background may also find the interface less intuitive, which can make adoption harder for frontline healthcare staff who need something quick and easy on mobile.
5. PerfectServe
PerfectServe is a clinical communication platform with a focus on physician scheduling and on-call management.
Pros
● Physician scheduling
● Video call
● Scheduling workflows
What to Consider
PerfectServe is a healthcare app for large healthcare networks that need physician scheduling and on-call management.
However, it's primarily a scheduling platform with a chat function, so it doesn't function as a full team communication app. The rollout can be complex, and for teams looking for an all-in-one communication solution, it may feel more like an operations system than an everyday work chat app.
Choose the Platform That Keeps Your Practice Protected
Healthcare teams shouldn't have to choose between a video conferencing app that's easy to use and one that keeps them HIPAA compliant. When staff switch between apps or fall back on personal messaging apps and non-compliant video calls to get through their day, that's a HIPAA violation.
Your team needs a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform that works as a team chat app too, with built-in video and voice calls. One work chat app that covers everything, compliant by default, without the extra IT setup or the risk of staff working around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform for healthcare teams?
Zenzap is the best option for healthcare teams because it's HIPAA-compliant out of the box.
Messaging, voice calls, and video calls are all in one place, so your team won't need to switch between tools. It's also intuitive and easy to use, which means staff won't fall back on personal messaging apps to get things done.
Why does built-in video matter in a HIPAA-compliant team chat app?
When video calls are built into your team chat app, every call is automatically covered by the same HIPAA protections as your messages and files. There's no separate video conferencing platform to configure, no extra BAA to chase down, and no risk of staff jumping to a non-compliant video app because it's more convenient.
One work chat app handles everything, and everything stays compliant.
Do we need a BAA if we're only using video for internal staff calls?
Yes. If your staff is discussing patient cases on a video call, even internally, and the video conferencing platform processes or transmits that information, you need a BAA with the service provider. The HIPAA requirement applies to the information being discussed, not the direction of the call.
Why do healthcare staff fall back on personal messaging apps?
Usually, healthcare staff fall back on personal messaging apps because the compliant option is too slow, too complex, or too clunky on mobile. When a video conferencing platform gets in the way, staff default to whatever is most convenient, whether that's a personal messaging app or a non-compliant video call. That's why intuitiveness matters as much as compliance. A platform your team finds difficult to use won't get used, and that's where the real HIPAA risk starts.
