There's a balancing act when it comes to patient data: How do we safeguard protected health information while also achieving the benefits of sharing data? Joseph Kvedar, MD, vice president of Connected Health at Boston-based Partners HealthCare discusses this trade-off in a recent post on the Partners Connected Health blog, ultimately concluding the risk is worth the reward.
Dr. Kvedar writes the cyber world is often viewed with a degree of wariness, but that tends to overshadow the positives that it can bring, particularly when it comes to sharing data.
"The same information [consumers fear being stolen] that can be used to create highly personalized programs to help people stay healthier and happier, can also be a key factor in improving efficiencies and reducing healthcare costs," Dr. Kvedar writes. "Further, it's been shown that sharing data with providers, friends or social media groups can actually help people stay on track with their health and wellness goals."
Dr. Kvedar acknowledges the risk of sharing personal data, but says it is a trade-off that he is willing to make with his own data.
To put consumers at ease, Dr. Kvedar says companies can be more transparent about privacy policies and data collection practices, communicating in simple language to ensure all consumers can understand. "Bottom line, the rights of individuals must be protected, and organizations — healthcare providers included — need to do a better job of explaining privacy issues and safeguards," he writes.
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