HIN Sign: The data-saving eSigning standard for the Swiss healthcare sector
HIN stands for secure and data protection-compliant communication
Get to know the customer
Health Info Net AG (HIN) protects patient data in the digital world. For healthcare professionals in Switzerland, HIN is the standard for secure communication and the trustworthy handling of sensitive data.
HIN was founded in 1996 on the initiative of the FMH and the Ärztekasse. Since then, HIN has been networking healthcare professionals in a simple, secure, and personal manner.
At a glance
HIN and Certifaction have been collaborating since 2019. HIN Sign utilizes a white-label version of Certifaction, available both as a web app and through direct integration into practice and hospital information systems (PIS and HIS) via API.
HIN and Certifaction have since then successfully launched the e-prescription Switzerland service (issuing potential of up to 30 million prescriptions per year) and are working on further joint projects.
Maximum data and document security
Healthcare professionals sign documents securely and efficiently
Innovative, specially developed features
Digital Twin as well as single sign-on and signature based on HIN eID
More than 200,000 signed documents
The figures speak for themselves: the signature solution is very easy to use
Peer Hostettler, Member of the Executive Board, HIN
The challenge:
For HIN, this was a significant step towards the digitization of the Swiss healthcare system.
The primary focus was on improving the workflow for healthcare staff, allowing them to electronically sign medical documents, certificates of incapacity for work, and prescriptions in a data protection-compliant and forgery-proof manner, thereby saving time and money.
Ensuring data protection was particularly crucial, given the highly sensitive nature of the data processed in the healthcare sector. HIN has established itself as the standard for confidential communication.
In a second step, HIN Sign Professional was developed. The hospitals wanted to use their own branding for the e-signature platform and to have the option of using their own certificates and seals. They wanted to have employment contracts signed in a legally valid manner, even by staff who do not yet have a HIN eID.
Furthermore, the hospitals demanded a customizable user and role administration, deletion deadlines and a detailed usage report.
Customer requirements at a glance:
The top priority for the entire application: Data minimization
*With single-sign and multi-sign with password protection
The solution
Urs Fischer, Head of Business Development & Innovation, HIN
Technical Implementation
HIN evaluated various partners and selected Certifaction, a provider that ensures the protection of sensitive data through its privacy-first technology. Documents are signed on the user’s end device (also known as local processing), guaranteeing that neither Certifaction nor HIN has access to the documents.
If a document needs to be signed by other parties, it is encrypted locally, and Certifaction retains the key only as long as necessary. Additionally, the trust service provider supplies an electronic seal, which is immediately invalidated if the document is tampered with.
Digital Twin
Certifaction offers another innovative feature – the Digital Twin. This feature bridges the gap between printed documents and their digital versions.
Digital originals can be viewed directly on the screen, their authenticity can be verified, and the manipulation of both printed and digital documents can be ruled out and prevented.
Users can also download a securely stored digital copy to their devices. More information can be found here.
An API that makes developers happy
Enjoy a simple integration into your existing systems
The results
Christoph Weber, Produkt Manager, HIN
Rising user and usage figures
The number of users is increasing encouragingly. There are now more than 14,000 registered users. Usage is also increasing rapidly – more and more healthcare professionals are signing documents digitally. Currently, around 20,000 signatures are made per month, which corresponds to an annual volume of over 200,000 signatures.
HIN Sign Professional
HIN Sign Professional is a further development of the HIN Sign service for large institutions (hospitals, telemedical providers, group practices, etc.). This fee-based service offers the option of using your own signature certificate or seal as well as branding in the design of the respective institutions.
The service provides shared signature spaces for the individual departments (see teamspaces), so signature processes can be managed in a team. Furthermore, individuals without a HIN eID can also sign with a guest account, for example to legally sign supplier or employment contracts.
User and role administration can be carried out centrally by the hospital or institution. In the settings, admins can also adjust the deletion periods for documents and download a detailed report.
Advantages for medical staff
Healthcare professionals can easily sign most documents with eSignatures (except care placements or e-prescriptions for narcotics), which makes the day-to-day work of medical professionals much easier. Workflows are more efficient and media disruptions are avoided.
Maximum data and document security
Intuitive handling, even for first-time users
Fast implementation at eye level
Innovative Digital Twin
Increased efficiency
Seamless integration
Further cooperation: E-prescription and more
HIN and Certifaction have had a close partnership since 2019, which has resulted in numerous successful solutions to date.
Furthermore, HIN Sign Professional will also allow people without HIN eID to sign with a guest account in the future, for example for the legally valid signing of employment contracts.
The results in numbers
14’000+ registered HIN Sign users
20’000+ signatures per month
All benefits at a glance
Maximum data and document security
Simple integration via API
Single sign-on (SSO) based on HIN eID
Signature based on HIN eID
Custom hospital / institutional branding*
Sign as guest without HIN eID*
Your own seals and teamspaces*
*available with HIN Sign Professional
FAQs
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions
How is Certifaction different to simple PDF solutions?
The biggest difference is that Certifaction doesn’t rely on simple PDF solutions that have been manipulated and hacked time after time:
- You benefit from blockchain’s superior security has no single point of failure and is virtually impossible to hack.
- You stay in full privacy control, with a solution that is built on privacy-by-design, where your documents don’t have to be uploaded to the cloud but can be locally processed on your device.
In addition, your documents can be instantly verified – in an intuitive way that doesn’t require an instruction manual. And thanks to our Digital Twin solution, you can now also verify printed documents – on any smartphone – and download their digital originals.
Are Certifaction's eSignatures legally valid?
Yes. Our blockchain-based eSignatures are legally valid and support all major global standards (incl. eIDAS, ZertES, UETA, ESIGN).
In addition, you can select the right signature type for your needs: from our cost-effective blockchain eSignature all the way up to qualified blockchain eSignatures (QES).
And did we already mention that they come with a full audit trail that is immutable?
Will my documents be uploaded to the cloud?
No, not necessarily: Certifaction is built on privacy-by-design. This means that all documents can be locally processed on your device – or, if they need to be shared via the cloud (e.g., for eSignature invitations or the Digital Twin), then they are protected with end-to-end encryption and hosted on ISO 27001 certified servers in Switzerland. And as an Enterprise customer, you also have the option to host your documents on your own server.
Is it free to verify a document?
Yes. The verification of both your electronic & printed documents is free.
And did you know that you could also make our verification tool your own (on the Enterprise plan) and embed it in your own web page?
Can I keep my branding throughout the whole process?
Yes, in our Enterprise plan. There you have the option to customize the branding of all signing, certifying, and verifying processes and stay within your brand identity. That also includes our WebApp and your document footers.