Shopify Might Be a Trap

🎥 Must Watch: E-Commerce & HIPAA – WooCommerce vs. Shopify for Healthcare

E-Commerce & HIPAA – WooCommerce vs. Shopify for Healthcare

As more healthcare providers expand into online sales—from supplements to medical devices—choosing the right e-commerce platform isn’t just a business decision. It’s a compliance decision.

In this episode, we break down:

• Which platforms can be configured for HIPAA compliance (and which can’t)

• Why Shopify won’t sign a BAA—and what that means for your risk

• How WooCommerce + WordPress can be hardened for HIPAA (if done right)

• Real-world examples of what constitutes PHI in an online store

Whether you're selling insulin pumps or bandages, this discussion helps you understand where e-commerce meets patient privacy—and what to do next.

Watch Now and learn what makes your online store secure—or dangerously exposed.

🛠️ HIPAA Compliance Tip

Choose E-Commerce Platforms That Support Compliance

Selling health-related products online? Your platform choice can either support or sabotage your HIPAA compliance.

Why it matters:
If your store collects names, addresses, or order details tied to medical conditions, you're potentially handling PHI. Many platforms—like Shopify—don’t sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), which makes them unsuitable for healthcare e-commerce.

Action Steps:

• Avoid platforms that won’t sign a BAA. Shopify publicly states it won’t, which means it can’t be used to process PHI.

• Use configurable solutions like WooCommerce. When hosted on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure and properly secured, WooCommerce can meet compliance standards.

Bottom line:
Don’t let your storefront become a liability. Choose tools that can be secured, audited, and backed by a BAA.

📰 Industry News Roundup

Kaiser Permanente Outage Highlights Risks

A recent system outage forced Kaiser Permanente pharmacies to revert to pen-and-paper methods, underscoring the need for robust IT infrastructure. The Verge

CharmHealth Launches AI Scribe

CharmHealth introduced an AI-powered scribe to streamline clinical documentation, aiming to reduce provider workload. HealthcareNOWradio.com

Fortify Your Online Healthcare Store

Selling healthcare products online? If your e-commerce platform handles names, addresses, or medical-related purchases, it may involve PHI—and that means HIPAA compliance is non-negotiable.

Why it matters:
Most standard hosting providers (like GoDaddy or Bluehost) don’t support HIPAA requirements and won’t sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). That leaves your store—and your patients—at risk.

HIPAA Vault delivers:

• Fully managed, HIPAA-compliant hosting for WordPress, WooCommerce, Linux, and Windows

• Signed BAA included with all hosting plans

• Real-time threat monitoring, secure backups, and 24/7 expert support

Next Step:
Ensure your infrastructure is compliant from day one. Contact HIPAA Vault to secure your environment.