Secure Messaging

The Hub allows you to communicate directly with patients who have connected via the Halo app. All messages are end-to-end encrypted for HIPAA compliance.

Prerequisites

Before you can message a patient, they must:

1. Have the Halo app installed on their phone
2. Have accepted your connection invitation
3. Be in active connection status

Note

You can only message patients who have accepted your invitation. Patients with pending invitations cannot receive messages yet.

Sending a Message

1. Open Patient Details

   Click on a patient card to open their detail view.

2. Click Message Icon

   Click the message icon (💬) in the patient header, or scroll to the messaging section.

3. Compose Your Message

   Type your message in the text field. Messages can be up to 2,000 characters.

4. Send

   Click the send button or press Enter to send.

Message Types

You can send different types of messages depending on the context:

Type	Description	Use Case
Text	Standard text message	General communication
Care Instruction	Formatted care plan	Post-visit instructions
Lab Result	Lab value with context	Sharing test results
Prescription	Medication details	New prescriptions
Appointment	Date/time details	Scheduling

Tip

For care instructions and prescriptions, use the structured message types. They display more clearly in the Halo app and are easier for patients to reference later.

Viewing Conversations

Conversation List

Access all your patient conversations:

1. Click the “Messages” icon in the Hub header
2. View the list of all patient conversations
3. Unread messages show a badge count
4. Click a conversation to open it

Conversation History

Within a conversation, you can:

• Scroll up to see older messages
• See message timestamps
• View delivery status (sent, delivered, read)
• Search within the conversation

Unread Indicators

• Badge count: Shows on the Messages icon in the header
• Bold text: Unread conversations appear in bold
• Blue dot: Individual unread messages

Message Delivery Status

Each message shows its delivery status:

Status	Icon	Meaning
Sending	Spinner	Message is being encrypted and sent
Sent	Single check	Message delivered to server
Delivered	Double check	Message received by patient’s device
Read	Blue double check	Patient has opened the message

Security & Encryption

All messages in the Hub are protected by:

• End-to-end encryption using AES-256-GCM
• Messages are encrypted on your device before transmission
• Only you and the patient can read the messages
• Aether servers cannot access message content

Caution

Even though messages are encrypted, avoid including sensitive information like Social Security numbers or financial data. Use the secure document sharing feature for sensitive attachments.

Message Attachments

You can attach files to messages:

Supported Formats

• PDF documents
• Images (JPG, PNG)
• Medical images (coming soon)

Size Limits

• Maximum file size: 10 MB
• Maximum 3 attachments per message

How to Attach

1. Click the attachment icon (📎)
2. Select file(s) from your computer
3. Preview before sending
4. Click send

Patient Responses

When a patient replies:

1. You’ll see the message appear in the conversation
2. An indicator shows in the Hub header
3. Email notification sent (if enabled in settings)
4. The conversation moves to the top of your message list

Best Practices

Do’s

• Keep messages concise and clear
• Use structured message types when appropriate
• Respond within 24-48 hours
• Use proper medical terminology with patient-friendly explanations

Don’ts

• Don’t share information meant for other patients
• Don’t include financial or billing details
• Don’t use abbreviations the patient may not understand
• Don’t send urgent medical advice via message (call instead)

Note

For urgent medical matters, always contact the patient by phone or direct them to emergency services. Secure messaging is not intended for emergency communication.

Notification Settings

Configure how you receive message notifications:

Setting	Options
Email Alerts	Immediate, Daily digest, Off
Browser Notifications	On/Off
Sound	On/Off

Access these in Hub Settings → Notifications.

Next Steps

Hub Overview

Return to Hub overview →

Managing Patients

Learn about patient management →