Secure Email To and From Stanford Children’s Health Care Providers
Some Stanford Children's Health care providers and clinics may communicate with you via email. Emails sent from a Stanford Children’s Health care provider that contain Protected Health Information (PHI) like patient name, date of birth, status or update on the patient’s health, etc., are sent through secure email.
- If you are a patient or legal guardian of a patient and would like to receive email communications from your Stanford Children’s Health care team (if available), you can indicate your preference by signing a form that is available at our clinics or in the hospital.
- If you are a health care provider whose patient also comes to Stanford Children’s, no paperwork is necessary.
Please note that not all of our providers and clinics use email to communicate with our patients, families and referring health care providers. Some still may prefer to speak with you over the phone. If you are looking to make an appointment at Stanford Children’s or have a question about your child’s health, please use our Contact Us form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Stanford Children’s Health sending me a Secure Message?
Protecting customer privacy and data is a priority at Stanford Children's. We use the Secure Email Service to give our customers and business partners a safe, quick, and secure way to email us personal data, such as account numbers and balance information.
What is a Secure Email?
The Secure Email Service uses email encryption to safely transmit the email's content across the Internet. Email encryption is similar to a letter being placed into an envelope and sealed. We scramble the information inside the email (including attachments) and send it. The recipient has a software encryption key (their password) that allows them to open (unseal) the message.
Do I need any special software to view secure email sent by Stanford Children's Health?
No. The Secure Email Service uses a combination of email and html. So if you have email of any kind and are able to access the Internet, you have everything you need to use the Secure Email Service.
Do I need a Username and Password to open secure messages?
Yes. Your username is your email address, and was created when you enrolled. A message sent to your email address will automatically supply your username, and then you will need to enter your password to open the message.
What if I forget or want to change my password?
Use the Forgot Password? link when you attempt to open the secure message. The process will require you to answer the Password Challenge Question you specified when you enrolled in the Secure Email Service. If you continue to have problems, please contact the Customer Support number, 1-866-412-6113.
Can I reply securely to an email from Stanford Children's Health?
Yes. Simply select the 'Reply' button in the message, and your response will be encrypted. Please note that you cannot forward these email messages to others outside of the Stanford Children's Health email system.
Can I send/receive attachments through the Secure Email Service?
Yes. The body of the email and all attachments are encrypted. (NOTE: The subject line of the email is NOT encrypted!)
What is the largest attachment I can send through the Secure Email Service?
10 MB is the size limit for attachments.
What kind of email encryption is used in Secure Email Service emails?
128 bit triple DES encryption.
Will I be able to save an attachment to my computer?
Yes. You may open attachments and save them to your computer's hard drive. Those documents will not require a password to open. However, the email will always remain encrypted and require you to enter your password each time you open it.
Are there any precautions I should take in sending encrypted emails?
Yes. DO NOT include confidential data in the subject line. The subject line is never encrypted. Include sensitive information in the body of your email.