Communicate: Direct Secure Messaging (DSM)

DSM is a HIPAA compliant email certified for sending and receiving patient health information. Communicate, NDHIN’s DSM platform, is available to all NDHIN Participants.

NDHIN Participants interested in obtaining a DSM account should contact their NDHIN Outreach Coordinator or simply email ndhin@nd.gov and request DSM.

How Does My Facility Sign Up?

  1.  Interested NDHIN Participants complete the Health Care Organization (HCO) Account Request.
    1. A representative with authority to request the HCO account for their facility must be listed on the HCO account request form. 
    2. Additionally, the representative completes Declaration of Identity paperwork which requires notarization.
    3. The account request also includes space to list the Organization Administrators for the HCO account.  The administrator’s role is to provide the self-registration link and approve new user requests.
  2. The participant emails the request forms to NDHIN for processing.
  3. When the account creation is complete, the account representative and the organization administrators receive an email with login credentials and instructions.

How Do New Users Sign Up to Get Their DSM Email?

            The Participant must have a DSM HCO account:

  1. New users are directed to a self-registration link.  The user enters their information as well as the facility they are affiliated with in the self-registration form.
  2. The new user’s request is sent to the organization administrators at the facility that the user entered in the self-registration form.
  3. The organization administrators either approve or decline the request.
  4. If approved, the account is created, and the new user receives an email with login credentials and information links.

Can Third-Party Billers Use NDHIN's DSM Service?

Yes, they can.

Third-Party Biller DSM emails are obtained in one of two ways.

  1. Self-register for a DSM account with a facility that already has DSM.  This is most often accomplished by the biller asking the facility they bill for to grant them a DSM account.  Once permission is established, the biller completes the self-registration form. The facility entered on the form will receive the biller’s request. Once approved, the account is created, and the user receives an email with login credentials.
  2. The Third-Party Biller can choose to contract with NDHIN for DSM services for a small annual fee. Doing so allows the billing company to grant their employees access to DSM.