By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    First Aid Training Enhancing Workplace Health and Safety
    September 25, 2023
    Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
    September 23, 2023
    5 Self-Care Habits to Help You Live an A+ Life
    September 21, 2023
    Keep Employees Safe & Healthy By Reducing Warehouse Injuries
    September 20, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Medical Tests You May Not Need
    August 9, 2012
    ebola virus
    What the Ebola Outbreak Shows Us About Modern Health Technology
    September 19, 2014
    Digital Health Gets Extended (Television) Coverage
    September 27, 2012
    Latest News
    Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits
    September 12, 2023
    Reasons That Drug Prices Are Rising to Unsustainable Levels
    September 12, 2023
    How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations
    September 6, 2023
    The Hidden Benefits of Practice Exams for Medical Professionals
    September 6, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Medical Data & Patient Privacy: An Update
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Medical Records > Medical Data & Patient Privacy: An Update
eHealthMarketingMedical RecordsPolicy & Law

Medical Data & Patient Privacy: An Update

AveryP
Last updated: 2018/07/30 at 9:04 PM
AveryP
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
Inference vs. FactHIPAA vs. GDPRPersonal Safeguards

When it comes to the handling and dissemination of patient information, is it possible that a free market and data privacy are incompatible? The short answer, unfortunately, is yes.

To be more specific, without regulation and government oversight, the health insurance market in this country has become essentially free to do whatever they want with our information — regardless of whether that information is directly or indirectly tied to our medical health.

Beyond the obvious problem of data breaches, how is our information being willingly used by insurance marketers without our consent? (Does that question make you mad? It should: That’s “free market capitalism” applied to healthcare for you.)

More Read

healthcare providers

How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations

The Hidden Benefits of Practice Exams for Medical Professionals
Guarding Your Health – 6 Essential PPE Investments for the New Home Health Worker
Understanding Trust Litigation When Dealing with Health Issues
The Journey to Healing: Navigating the Aftermath of Wrongful Death Claims 

Inference vs. Fact

NPR’s recent expose on health-related companies such as health insurance firms, data brokers working for wearable technology companies, etc., are making a profit off our personal health information.

Think of those instant alerts that show up on your phone whenever you enter a restaurant or store these days. That’s one example of targeted marketing. But health insurance companies are doing the same thing — or attempting to do so, at least — with our predicted healthcare costs. Notice I wrote predicted rather than actual.

According to data scientist Cathy O’Neil, “[Drawing] conclusions about health risks on such data could lead to a bias against some poor people. It would be easy to infer they are prone to costly illnesses based on their backgrounds and living conditions … ” O’Neil’s book, Weapons of Math Destruction, examines algorithms and their potential to increase inequality.

Marshall Allen, the NPR journalist who reported on these findings, decided to look into his personal data file by inquiring via LexisNexis here. And speaking of the internet, according to Dr. Marco Huesch, you might want to go Incognito next time you do a Google search for healthcare-related information — due to the whole third-party data detection thing.

But it’s not just health insurance companies you need to watch out for, in addition to retail marketers. Now medical and healthcare-related resource websites are potential culprits too!

HIPAA vs. GDPR

You may be asking, “What’s the difference between the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)? One notable characteristic of GDPR is its emphasis on purpose limitation and demonstrable compliance, according to Robert Lord. One interesting reason the differences are so prominent — as reflected in the flood of GDPR-related security and privacy policy emails we all received last month — is related to the fact that GDPR is an EU-related regulation.

Though the U.S. and the EU differ greatly in many ways, perhaps the biggest difference is the presence of more government regulation when it comes to healthcare in the EU — largely because healthcare is controlled by state-sponsored providers rather than private companies.

Because of the value of patient data to companies hoping to appeal to patients with specific health concerns such as diabetes, the strategies healthcare professionals use to protect data — such as using firewalls, installing pop-up blockers, and backing up data — are of no use once that data is out in the world through the use of the latest medical app or wearable device.

Personal Safeguards

So how can we be more vigilant about protecting our personal data? First, be careful to note what you need to opt out of so as not to be noticed — for example, your location data on your phone, or your search strings (hint: use Incognito). Also, be careful of “Liking” or sharing posts on Facebook and Instagram — since social media sites track every online decision and app download we make.

Also — and again, most importantly — there’s this little problem of lack of regulation, especially when it comes to the internet. With a more laissez-faire congress in office, the recent reversal of privacy regulations affecting internet service providers allows ISPs to sell consumer data without asking for their permission.

This is why new GDPR regulations sent a flurry of emails into our inboxes: Because any corporation handling data belonging to citizens of the EU — which is, in this era of globalization, most of them — must disclose their privacy policies and alert customers to their rights as consumers to retract their permissions.

Unfortunately, all this usually amounts to is a new jargon-full privacy policy that we never read. Ryan Kh cites a recent global survey that found 15 percent of computers out of 2,935 health organizations were running older or outdated operating systems — making them more vulnerable to malware and cyberattacks.

Mobile healthcare apps still have catching up to do, as well — needing to solidify their data encryption and user-based access to information. Since app developers are often more interested in developing new technologies than heightening app security, it’s up to users to either delete apps after use or diligently install updates and VPN encryption programs on their mobile devices.

*   *   *

Ultimately, it’s up to consumers to safeguard their own personal data. We need to be extremely careful of how and where we share any personal information — even details that seem innocuous and unrelated to our physical or mental health.

Until there are more vigilant government regulations of data brokers and marketing analysts, we should keep information “close to the chest,”
so to speak, to avoid seeing negative effects in our health insurance premiums or public records.

What is your experience with data sharing either as a consumer or as a healthcare provider? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

TAGGED: changes in healthcare marketing, data brokers, GDPR, government regulation, Health Data, health insurance, HIPAA, mobile health apps

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
AveryP July 30, 2018
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article The Surprising Connection Between the Microbiome and Childhood Development
Next Article 3 Ways Stress Management Therapy Can Reverse Effects of Cortisol

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

workplace first aid training
First Aid Training Enhancing Workplace Health and Safety
Health September 25, 2023
Anxiety Disorder
The Importance of Nutrition in Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Anxiety September 24, 2023
spinal health
How to Advocate For Your Spinal Health In A Healthcare Setting: Strategies From Dr. Brandon Claflin
News September 24, 2023
Medical Surveys
Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
Health September 23, 2023

You Might also Like

menopause and depression
Mental Health

How Menopause and Depression are Connected

September 13, 2023
health insurance disability
Policy & Law

Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits

September 12, 2023
tiktok marketing healthcare blog
Technology

5 Best Tips for Growing Your Healthcare Blog on TikTok

September 12, 2023
rising drug costs
Pharmaceuticals

Reasons That Drug Prices Are Rising to Unsustainable Levels

September 8, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?