Skip to main content

Cross-Cutting Compliance & Security Requirements

Scope: Compliance, security, privacy, and audit requirements enforced system-wide.
Authority: Normative for ALL modules.


RequirementDetail
Consent/disclosure controlsCapture consent state, scope, dates, revocation; enforce in access and exports
Minimum necessaryEnforce at API level; role-based data filtering; segmentation of sensitive categories
Accounting of disclosuresExport access logs per patient over date range
Data localizationCountry-specific residency rules configurable per tenant
Cross-border transferPolicy-controlled; configurable per tenant

2. Audit

RequirementDetail
Tamper-evident logAppend-only AuditEventRecord with chain hash (SHA-256)
Events loggedAuthentication, PHI access, data modification, exports/print, break-glass, config changes
Retention90-day live query minimum; archive policy configurable
SeparationAudit logs MUST be separate from application logs
Chain integrityBackground verification job for hash chain
Meta-auditingAudit service publishes events for export requests, completions, DLQ alerts

3. Security Enforcement

LayerRequirement
TransportTLS everywhere (in-transit encryption)
StorageEncryption at rest for all data stores
SecretsManaged secret store; automated rotation
MFAPolicy-driven; supported for all user types
SessionConfigurable timeout; device tracking
Rate limitingGateway-level; per-endpoint tuning for patient-facing endpoints
Break-glassEmergency access supported where configured; mandatory audit + justification

4. Interoperability Standards

StandardRequirement
FHIR R4+Primary exchange interface; CapabilityStatement published
HL7 v2ADT/ORM/ORU/SIU via adapters
CDA/CCDImport/export when required
DICOM/DICOMwebWhere imaging deployed
IHE profilesPIX/PDQ/XDS/ATNA where required
SMART on FHIROAuth2/OIDC for third-party app integration
TerminologySNOMED CT, LOINC, RxNorm, ICD-10/11 where licensed

5. Electronic Signatures

  • Support electronic signatures aligned with applicable local regulations.
  • Clinical note signing creates an immutable record; corrections via addendum/amendment.
  • Audit trail for all signature events.

6. WHO Alignment

  • ICD-11 diagnosis classification
  • ATC drug classification (optional)
  • Immunization schedules (when module licensed)
  • WHO health metrics and indicators (when reporting deployed)

7. Application Security and Zero Trust

  • OWASP ASVS SHOULD inform secure design reviews for public and partner-facing surfaces (auth, session handling, input validation, crypto, logging).
  • Zero trust: validate JWT and entitlements at gateway and service; never trust the network alone. Internal service calls SHOULD use mTLS or equivalent where deployment policy requires.
  • Offline-first: PHI on device and sync channels MUST meet encryption, wipe, and audit expectations in OFFLINE_FIRST_AND_CLIENT_SYNC.md and module specs.

See also REQUIREMENTS_GUARD_RAILS.md.

8. AI, Automation, and Vendor Models

  • Human oversight: Clinician-facing AI remains assistive unless a separately validated CDS program is defined; see AI_PLATFORM.md.
  • Subprocessors / DPAs: Use of external model providers requires appropriate data processing agreements, subprocessor registers, and transfer impact assessment where GDPR or equivalent applies.
  • Logging: Align with FR-NFR-018 — no raw PHI in default app logs; secured retention only when configured.
  • EU AI Act / regional AI rules: High-risk or limited-risk categorizations SHOULD be reviewed with legal for documentation, transparency, and oversight obligations.
  • Safety: Distinguish documentation assist from patient triage/diagnostic outputs; the latter requires explicit safety and clinical governance.

9. Compliance Requirement IDs (Cross-Reference)

These system-level requirements apply to ALL modules:

Requirement IDsDomainApplies To
FR-MOD-001..007Module licensing & activationAll modules
FR-COMP-003..005Privacy (HIPAA/GDPR alignment)All modules
FR-COMP-006..009Interoperability standardsAll modules with external data
FR-COMP-010Electronic signaturesClinical documentation modules
FR-COMP-011..013Consent, minimum necessary, disclosuresAll modules that access PHI
FR-L10N-001..006Localization & RTLAll modules with UI/print
FR-NFR-001..006Performance, security, DRAll modules
FR-NFR-007..008Usability & localizationAll modules with UI
FR-NFR-009..018API edge, offline/sync, UX, AI governance, AI NFRsAs stated in system FR doc
FR-AI-001..010AI platform and assistive capabilitiesModules using AI + orchestrator