HIN Sign: The data-saving eSigning standard for the Swiss healthcare sector

HIN stands for secure and data protection-compliant communication

  • Hundreds of thousands of signed medical documents
  • Comprehensive coverage: certificates of incapacity to work, patient information forms as well as apprenticeship and special purchase contracts
  • HIN relies on the white-label version of our Privacy-First eSigning solution
Logo mit den Buchstaben H1N in Grau und sechs orangefarbenen ovalen Punkten, die in einer diagonalen Linie nach rechts oben verlaufen

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 2020. 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.

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Maximum data and document security

Healthcare professionals sign documents securely and efficiently

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Innovative, specially developed features

Digital Twin as well as single sign-on and signature based on HIN eID

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More than 500'000 signatures

The figures speak for themselves: the signature solution is very easy to use

The challenge:

HIN initiated the collaboration with Certifaction to provide the HIN community with an eSignature solution, enabling hundreds of thousands of documents to be signed electronically without incurring transaction costs.

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

  1. The top priority for the entire application: Data minimisation
  2. Document security: No insight into sensitive medical documents*
  3. Scalable flat-rate pricing model for millions of documents without additional costs per signature
  4. Single sign-on (SSO) and signature based on HIN eID
  5. Seamless integration into existing applications (PIS and HIS systems)
  6. Forgery protection for both digital and printed documents
  7. Partnership-based product development with local and agile partners
*for single-sign and multi-sign with password protection

The solution

With Certifaction, HIN found a partner on an equal footing. Certifaction brought a number of important qualities to the table:
  • The will and expertise to develop an innovative solution that digitises and revolutionises the healthcare sector
  • Flexibility and joint planning of the solution implementation – HIN was heavily involved and there was a close dialogue
  • In contrast to the large eSignature providers, Certifaction had a maximum interest in making HIN a successful partner and HIN Sign a success
Within a short space of time, HIN Sign was launched, followed by the e-prescription Switzerland service. “The collaboration was very solution-orientated and friendly,” says Christoph Weber, Product Manager of HIN Sign and E-Rezept Schweiz Service.
Laptop und Smartphone zeigen Benutzeroberflächen einer HIN-Anwendung zur digitalen Signatur; das Laptop-Display zeigt einen Screen zur Auswahl von Dokumenten und Signaturtypen, das Smartphone-Display zeigt eine Vorschau eines Dokuments mit Optionen zum Ablehnen oder Signieren.

Technical implementation

HIN evaluated various partners and chose Certifaction, a provider that perfectly guarantees the protection of sensitive data thanks to its privacy-first technology. The documents are signed on the user’s end device (also known as local processing), which ensures that neither Certifaction nor HIN have access to the documents. If a document is to be signed by other parties, the document is encrypted locally. Certifaction only keeps the key for as long as necessary. In addition, the trust service provider supplies an electronic seal that is immediately invalidated if the document is tampered with.

Digital Twin

Certifaction has another innovative feature – the Digital Twin. The Digital Twin builds a bridge 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.

You can also download a securely stored digital copy to your own device. You can find more information here.

Grafische Darstellung eines Dokuments und eines Smartphones, das das Dokument mit einem QR-Code scannt und die Option zeigt, das Originaldokument herunterzuladen, mit einem grünen Häkchen zur Bestätigung.
From developers, for developers

The simplest API for signing and identifying

Terminalfenster mit Eingabebefehl zum digitalen Signieren einer PDF-Datei mittels Certifact API und digitalem Zwilling, Ausgabe in output.pdf
Terminalfenster mit Eingabebefehl zum digitalen Signieren einer PDF-Datei mittels Certifact API und digitalem Zwilling, Ausgabe in output.pdf

The results

Rising user and utilisation figures

HIN evaluated various partners and chose Certifaction, a provider that perfectly guarantees the protection of sensitive data thanks to its privacy-first technology. The documents are signed on the user’s end device (also known as local processing), which ensures that neither Certifaction nor HIN have access to the documents.

If a document is to be signed by other parties, the document is encrypted locally. Certifaction only keeps the key for as long as necessary. In addition, the trust service provider supplies an electronic seal that is immediately invalidated if the document is tampered with.

“We are very satisfied. The pleasing development in user numbers speaks for itself. The ease of use of the solution is highly appreciated by users,” says HIN Product Manager Christoph Weber.

HIN Sign Professional

HIN Sign Professional is a further development of the HIN Sign service for large institutions (hospitals, Telmed providers, group practices, etc.). The fee-based service offers the option of using your own signature certificate or seal as well as branding in the design of the respective institution.

The service provides shared signature spaces for the individual departments (see Teamspaces) so that signature processes can be managed as a team. Furthermore, people without HIN eID can also sign with a guest account, for example for the legally valid signing of 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 detailed reporting.

Advantages for medical staff

Healthcare professionals can use eSignatures to simply sign most documents (with the exception of care placements or anaesthetic prescriptions), which makes the day-to-day work of medical professionals much easier. Workflows are more efficient and media disruptions are avoided.

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Maximum data and document security

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Intuitive handling, even for first-time users

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Fast implementation at eye level

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Innovative Digital Twin

increased-efficiency

Increased efficiency

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Seamless integration

The HIN Sign service can be easily integrated into the PIS and HIS of individual medical representatives. HIN is in contact with many providers to ensure this integration is seamless and uncomplicated.

Further co-operations: E-prescription and more

HIN and Certifaction have had a close partnership since 2019, which has resulted in numerous successful solutions to date. HIN also uses an electronic signature in connection with the e-prescription Switzerland service.

Depiction of the electronic signature on e-prescriptions in Switzerland with two smartphone screens showing an e-prescription app, including text on how to use the service, an article image with a man in front of a computer, and the logos of the organisations HIN, FMH and pharmaSuisse on a white background.
Here, the eSignature is used to sign the prescription data in an unalterable and therefore forgery-proof manner. The solution is therefore designed for a very high volume, as around 30 million e-prescriptions will be issued in Switzerland every year in future.

The result in figures

registered HIN Sign users
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Signatures per month
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All benefits at a glance

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Maximum data and document security

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Simple integration via API

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Modern white-label solution

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Development of custom features

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Single sign-on (SSO) based on HIN eID

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Signature based on HIN eID

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Partnership-based product development

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Local and agile eSigning provider

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Innovative features such as the Digital Twin

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Easy-to-use signing function

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Use via web app or integration

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Easy entry into digitalisation

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Custom hospital / institutional branding*

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Sign as guest without HIN eID*

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Your own seals and teamspaces*

*available with HIN Sign Professional

Your path to the future

Join leading organizations

Contact us now to find out how we can help your company make your signing, certification and verification processes digital, intuitive and future-proof.

FAQs

Our answers to the most frequently asked questions

Yes. Our eSignatures are legally valid and support all major global standards (incl. eIDAS, ZertES, UETA, ESIGN).

In addition, you can choose the signature type that suits you best: from the cost-effective simple eSignature to the qualified eSignature (QES).

Unlike most competing providers, Certifaction offers the option of signing documents without ever seeing their content. The documents are processed locally on the customer side and encrypted when using the web app.

In the case of API integration, a local gateway takes over the encryption. In the event of a hack, the file would therefore be encrypted and unreadable. We also ensure that the documents are stored on ISO 27001-certified servers in Switzerland or an EU country.

Yes, Certifaction offers a customised white label option for partners. This enables the seamless integration of own products such as eIDs and certificates. The white label solution gives partners complete control over the platform. As an integration partner, we help open up new revenue streams and maximise business potential by providing tailored solutions for individual needs.

The Certifaction WebApp can be used immediately in the browser. The eSignature solution can also be integrated quickly via an API connection. Alternatively, the solution can be used as a white label product with full personalisation. Depending on the requirements, this is ready within a few weeks.

Certifaction is a hybrid solution without a complex infrastructure. The connection is established via API or by installing the CLI client. This makes our eSignature solution more flexible and cost-effective than a solution that is operated in your own data centre.

Certifaction is characterised by its innovative technology and clear focus on partnerships. Our customers value us as a trustworthy European partner that not only offers close cooperation and the highest security standards, but also enables the integration of its own products through white label solutions. This opens up new business opportunities and additional revenue streams for our partners. Our solution offers:

Do you have any further questions?