Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Sharing your personal health data? Don’t be scared!

Joseph Kvedar, MD
Tech
November 17, 2016
Share
Tweet
Share

I recently had the opportunity to join Boston news media veteran, Dan Rea, on his AM radio program, Nightside with Dan Rea. It was a one-hour call-in program and an eye-opening experience for me. Dan and I chatted about connected health and how it can truly disrupt care delivery and put the individual at the center of their own health. Then Dan opened the lines to the fine citizens of New England for questions, and the phones started ringing off the hook.

The overwhelming concern — actual fear — among callers was maintaining their privacy in an increasingly connected world, especially their personal health data. I was so struck by the extent of concern, I thought I’d present a few theories I’ve been contemplating on the subject.

When it comes to privacy issues, the cyber world is typically characterized as a sinister place, where consumers are duped and exploited, their data leaked or stolen. What we, unfortunately, don’t talk about is what consumers have to gain by sharing their data. For instance, the same information 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 health care costs. 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.


Yes, there is always some risk sharing personal data — whether online banking or communicating with your health care provider. But there are also rewards. In my view, it’s a trade-off, and one that I personally am willing to make with my own health data.

As I see it, there are two main problems when it comes to privacy. First, many companies have not been forthright regarding their privacy policies, leaving consumers unaware of when and how their data is being used, sometimes in ways they may not approve of. Second, we are all too aware of some alarming data breaches that make consumers wary of posting or sharing their personal data.

We can combat much of consumers’ fear by making privacy policies transparent, putting a halt to spying on people without their consent and creating systems to keep data confidential. Bottom line, the rights of individuals must be protected, and organizations — health care providers included — need to do a better job explaining privacy issues and safeguards.

As my friend and colleague Rob Havasy pointed out to me, HIPAA doesn’t directly apply to most connected health interventions, certainly not to those things that don’t directly connect to a hospital. Therefore, the consumer’s protections are covered by the privacy policy of the company that provides the equipment or service.

In my mind, privacy is not a complicated issue. In fact, it’s pretty straightforward.

So how do we increase consumers’ comfort levels and create more transparency around the red-hot issue of privacy?

Here are two simple ideas:

For anyone who is in the health care space, whether you’re a payer, provider, business or entrepreneur developing connected health devices or programs for consumers, you should be very forthcoming about your data collection and privacy policies. And, by all means, provide this information in simple, easy to understand language and skip the legal jargon.

And consumers need to understand that there’s no such thing as a free app. If it’s a free service, more than likely the business model will sell advertising – or data – including subscriber lists, to marketers. In most cases, without this revenue stream, there would be a fee attached to the service. This is a concept most consumers will understand.

Some will opt for the free service with the understanding that they give up some privacy. Others will want a fee-based service that will preserve their privacy. Either way, it should be the consumer’s choice.

Is the privacy fear such a turn-off that consumers will never agree to share their health data? Or can we help individuals understand the trade-off?

ADVERTISEMENT

Joseph Kvedar is director, Center for Connected Health, Partners HealthCare. He blogs at the cHealth Blog and is the author of the Internet of Healthy Things.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com 

Prev

It’s time to update the physical exam

November 16, 2016 Kevin 12
…
Next

There’s something missing in the doctors vs. AI debate

November 17, 2016 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Mobile health

Post navigation

< Previous Post
It’s time to update the physical exam
Next Post >
There’s something missing in the doctors vs. AI debate

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Joseph Kvedar, MD

  • Digital tools should not adversely affect the doctor-patient relationship

    Joseph Kvedar, MD
  • 5 obstacles to texting patients

    Joseph Kvedar, MD
  • Here are the limitations of virtual doctor visits

    Joseph Kvedar, MD

Related Posts

  • Sharing mental health issues on social media

    Tarena Lofton
  • Are negative news cycles and social media injurious to our health?

    Rabia Jalal, MD
  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • The mental health benefits of sharing stories

    Vibhu Krishna
  • Our laws don’t do enough to protect our health data

    Sharona Hoffman, JD
  • 3 ways to advance the credibility of online health information

    Robert Pearl, MD

More in Tech

  • A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

    Shanice Spence-Miller, MD
  • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

    Vineet Vishwanath
  • The promise and perils of AI in health care: Why we need better testing standards

    Max Rollwage, PhD
  • 3 tips for using AI medical scribes to save time charting

    Erica Dorn, FNP
  • Would The Pitts’ Dr. Robby Robinavitch welcome a new colleague? Yes. Especially if their initials were AI.

    Gabe Jones, MBA
  • Generative AI 2025: a 20-minute cheat sheet for busy clinicians

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding your medical bill: What those charges really mean

      Cheryl Spang | Finance
    • The emotional first responders of aesthetic medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why testosterone matters more than you think in women’s health

      Andrea Caamano, MD | Conditions
    • A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

      Shanice Spence-Miller, MD | Tech
    • How subjective likability practices undermine Canada’s health workforce recruitment and retention

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 8 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

      Ilan Shapiro, MD | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding your medical bill: What those charges really mean

      Cheryl Spang | Finance
    • The emotional first responders of aesthetic medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why testosterone matters more than you think in women’s health

      Andrea Caamano, MD | Conditions
    • A mind to guide the machine: Why physicians must help shape artificial intelligence in medicine

      Shanice Spence-Miller, MD | Tech
    • How subjective likability practices undermine Canada’s health workforce recruitment and retention

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Sharing your personal health data? Don’t be scared!
8 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...