Related Terms
Patient intake forms
SMS patient consent
See Also
eSignatures are usually part of a digital intake process. See how practices move forms online
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ABOUT THIS ENTRY
Category Core: Forms
Reading time: 1 min
Updated: Nov 2026
Electronic Signature (eSignature)
Definition
An electronic signature (eSignature) in healthcare is a digital way for a patient to sign intake, consent, or financial forms, such as by typing a name, drawing on a screen, or checking an agreement box.
Why the distinction matters
The federal ESIGN Act (2000) and state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give e-signatures the same legal weight as ink for most documents.
What makes one hold up is the record behind it: who signed, when, and what they saw.
For practices, e-signatures remove the clipboard. Patients sign consent to treat, HIPAA notices, and financial policies on their phone before arriving.
Signed copies land in the chart instead of a scanner tray, and staff don't chase missing signatures at check-in.
Example
A new patient gets a text two days before her visit with a link to intake forms. She fills in her history and signs the consent to treat and the financial policy with her finger. The signed PDF, with a timestamp, is waiting in her chart when she walks in.
Frequently Asked
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Are electronic signatures legally valid for medical consent forms?
For most forms, yes, under the ESIGN Act and state UETA laws. Some states have extra rules for certain documents, so check local requirements.
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What records should an eSignature keep?
The signer's name, date and time, the document version, and how the signer was identified.
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Can patients sign forms on their phone?
Yes. Most digital intake tools send a link by text so patients can sign on any smartphone.