Secure Services Corp. - Support
Support FAQ's Glossary of Terms

Why do healthcare providers need a secure communication system? Recent federal and state laws and regulations require that medical data and communications be private and confidential.  Few people want their medical information to be public knowledge, and such information can be misused for unethical and illegal purposes.  Secure communications promotes trust between patients and healthcare providers.

What is SHAPE Linx™ and what does it do? SHAPE Linx™ is a suite of software applications that allows for the secure collaboration of multiple healthcare systems through a single, easy-to-use desktop interface.  It provides a physician access to local disk drives, applications, files and documents, contact manager, e-mail, image handling, document imaging handling, drawing and annotation interface, sticky note interface, document rendering, and more.  This permits the collaboration in a secure, HIPAA compliant environment with other physicians and healthcare professionals, anywhere in the world, for real-time sharing of information including medical files, x-rays, test results and other medical information.SHAPE Linx and SHAPE Smart Token® CKM Enabled together form a world-class, secure personal identification and effective communication tool. Using fingerprint identification technology and an encryption system that remains unbroken after more than ten years, both users are assured that each has been authenticated and authorized for the communication

Will my doctor have to replace the existing hardware or software to use SHAPE Linx? No. SHAPE Linx is downloaded from the internet onto the existing system.  It “wraps around” the existing system, so the original investment is preserved

How is SHAPE Linx used? A card reader is attached to the doctor’s computer.  When the doctor’s card and fingerprint have been read, the SHAPE Linx environment is opened.  Then all work and communication within the SHAPE Linx environment is private and secure.

How are email messages kept private and secure when they are sent between systems with SHAPE Linx? All such messages are encoded.  They are only decoded once they have been received at the destination that has also downloaded a SHAPE Link translator

How does someone without SHAPE Linx read such a message? The recipient of such a message will see a dialogue box permitting the downloading of a SHAPE Linx translator.  The message can then be decoded and read.

Does SHAPE only work with doctors who are on the system? SHAPE works for each individual, regardless of whether the particular healthcare provider has installed anything in their office. Once a healthcare provider has installed the necessary SHAPE hardware, each individual holding a SHAPE card will have even greater control of access to their individual information.

If the SHAPE environment makes health care more cost effective, who really gets the reduction in costs and benefits from this? Both insurance company and health care provider costs are reduced using the SHAPE environment. You benefit because every provider has the appropriate information available at the point of care, increasing your safety and decreasing your frustration with paper forms, wait time and lack of communication.  It may also save you money by avoiding duplicate tests or unnecessary services that may cost you money.