Automatic Session Timeout Controls

This question asks if your application automatically logs users out or locks their screen after they've been inactive for a certain period. It's like a computer screensaver with a password - if someone walks away from their desk without logging out, the system automatically secures itself to prevent unauthorized people from accessing patient information on an unattended screen.

Automatic timeout is a specific HIPAA requirement that prevents unauthorized access to patient data from unattended workstations - a common cause of breaches in busy healthcare settings. Without this feature, healthcare organizations face compliance violations and increased breach risk. Most require timeouts between 10-15 minutes of inactivity, and lacking this feature often eliminates you from consideration.

Many applications have timeout features that only work in the web browser but don't terminate backend sessions, leaving API access active. Another mistake is having non-configurable timeout periods that don't match healthcare organization policies, or timeouts that can be easily bypassed with browser extensions or auto-refresh scripts.