Considerations for Patient Privacy in Telehealth

As a healthcare professional, I, Wayne Emerson Gregory Jr., have seen first hand how COVID-19 has impacted the patient experience in healthcare. Every day more patients are choosing to pursue telehealth as an alternative to in-person care. COVID-19 has impacted the confidence many people have in simply going out to get food, let alone go to a h believe telehealth can be highly beneficial. Telehealth can be the ideal solution to many problem healthcare facility where people sick with COVID-19 may be present. To combat the unknown in the world, Is if healthcare providers can ensure the process is safe and the patient’s information is secure. For example, many patients in remote areas would need to drive far distances for medical attention. Additionally, in the case where a specialist is needed, such as a neurologist in the case of a stroke, patients may be forced to cross state borders just to find a provider.

With the use of telehealth, citizens of small communities can get the same level of care that those in large cities receive. Although I believe telehealth is a great solution, we must consider the negative aspects as well. For example, if large companies can suffer from hacks that lose patient information, who’s to say a small outpatient clinic is better prepared in a similar scenario?

Take a look at these 5 considerations for patient’s privacy in telehealth!

Secure Devices

The first, and perhaps most important, is what kind of devices will be used. This worry corresponds to providers and patients. As hospitals and clinics usually do not give out personal devices, what is a provider supposed to use to provide telehealth services when they’re not in the hospital/clinic? Similarly, when patients need to have a remote, secure call with their provider, what kind of device will they be using? Without the proper safeguards in place, we, as healthcare providers, must worry about the patient’s security and safety. In a hospital or clinic setting, there are plenty of security features in place to protect patient information, but how are we to offer the same protection in telehealth?

Patient Identification

When patients have a scheduled meeting with a healthcare provider, how can the provider ensure that the patient is who they say they are? In the case that a patient sees a new provider, the provider will not be able to pass the patient on an “eye test”, as they don’t know them! Already, patient misidentification occurs—now and then, a patient’s personal information gets mixed up with another patient.

App Security

To go along with secure devices, when patients need to access their information, or they have a video call with a healthcare professional, they will likely use an app. I, Wayne Emerson Gregory, know that many patients are tech-savvy and know about security features; however, how confident can we be that these apps are as secure as they need to be. It’s more likely that hackers could find a way to breach these apps if they so desired.

Security Training

In scenarios where sensitive information is being handled, proper training is vital for security. With telehealth gaining popularity, more training will be conducted for healthcare professionals. However, training and educating patients on security is much more difficult. Healthcare providers must find ways to educate their patients. Whether patients are brought in for training, given training materials, or something else, all parties involved must be aware of the potential risks in participating in telehealth.

Health Monitoring

Is patient care going to be the same as we transition to telehealth? Some healthcare providers may struggle to adapt to online healthcare. As we move forward, we must consider the possibility that some healthcare providers may not be able to diagnose conditions as easily as they could in person.

The Bottom Line

As society changes, healthcare must adapt. Now that COVID-19 has been with us for many months, we are adapting. Telehealth has gained significant popularity, and the positives that come along with it extend beyond decreasing the chance of people being exposed to the virus. However, we cannot rush into telehealth. We have to be diligent, think about security, and put the patient’s privacy and health first.

By Wayne Emerson Gregory Jr.