Telehealth has become a roller in the healthcare systems with its global market estimated to hit $559. As foreseen by Fortune Business Insight, the market will reach $52 billion by 2027. It can also be seen that due to COVID-19, telehealth services such as those provided by Medi Bridge are much more convenient than face-to-face ones. However, this has brought about great convenience that patient privacy and securing of the clients’ health records have become a major concern.
Analyzing the Concept of Privacy and Security of Patient Data While Implementing Telehealth
The Rise of Telehealth
Telehealth as a trend has had a great enhancement and growth over the recent past; this has enhanced the accessibility of healthcare services in the comfort of own home. Teleconsultation, telemonitoring, and tele-diagnostics are the order of the day. However, this shift has also defined new threats of data breaches and unauthorized access to patients’ personal health information (PHI). Since the data pertains to health institutions, the confidentiality of the data is very important.
Potential Risks and Challenges
Telehealth platforms are open to multiple risks and can be hacked, phished, and have their data stolen. This means that digital communication exposes the messages to interception by cyber criminals in case appropriate measures are not taken. Also, the inclusion of different devices and networks in patients’ and HC professional leaders’ work complicates the process of ensuring telehealth services.
Legal and Risk Environment and Compliance Standards
HIPAA and Its Participation in Telehealth
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which is a set of private and security rules for health information in the United States. HIPAA mandates standards the healthcare providers regarding the security of the patient data during transfer, storage, and processing. HIPAA rules apply to telehealth providers to avoid penalties and maintain the confidentiality of PHI.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Another set of important regulatory measures for Healthcare providers, that function within or treating patients from the European Union, is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR especially strengthens the regulation of collecting, storing, and using personal information, and health data as well, and provides that no data processing should be conducted without the patient’s clear consent. Information exchange under telehealth services has to be under GDPR to avoid expensive fines and also ensure patient confidence.
Other Relevant Regulations
Apart from HIPAA and GDPR, there are numerous laws that telehealth providers should abide by depending on their operation jurisdiction and the services they offer. Some of these are the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act which builds on HIPAA and a lot of state laws that place further requirements on the management of health data.
Proper Guide in Safeguarding Privacy and Security for Telehealth
Secure Communication Channels
As a crucial parameter of telehealth’s success, the patients’ and healthcare providers’ communication must be safeguarded securely. The providers need to ensure that the methods of video calls, messaging, and data transfer are encrypted. Such encryption enables only those who are supposed to receive the information to see it and not any other person to intercept the data.
Implementing Strong Authentication
Identity verification of the users using the telehealth platforms is referred to as authentication. One needs to block any possibility of unauthorized access and the best practice is to use multi-factor authentication. MFA adds an extra layer to identity authentication; apart from a password, the user is asked to enter a code, usually a one-time code, that is sent to his/ her phone.
IT Governance Strategies
Telehealth platforms are required to follow changes in order to avoid specifics about threats. A common tactic that cybercriminals use is taking advantage of outdated software as a way of penetrating the systems. Ensuring that software and updates are installed immediately can also help telehealth providers minimize patient data vulnerability to a hackers’ attack.
Secure Data Storage and Transmission
Security and privacy of patients’ information are critical in telehealth because of data sharing and storage. Cloud storage solutions used by the providers must meet the standard set for the security of the stored data. Besides, it is desirable that all transferring of information between devices and servers is encrypted. Even transmission of data over public networks can be made more secure by employing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Conducting Regular Security Audits
Security scans are important in checking for any loopholes in telehealth solutions. These audits concern the evaluation of various settings, accounts, and procedures that were applied to the system and the information under processing. Thus, through routine audits, healthcare providers will be in a position to overcome security deficits before they are exploited by these hackers.
Educating Patients and Staff
Thus, the privacy and security of telehealth services are critical to both patients and healthcare staff. It is about what patients must do to safeguard their data during virtual consultation for instance which networks and equipment to use. Education of the staff is also paramount in a way that the health care professionals would understand the impact of data security and the measures to be taken when handling patient’s data.
However, this is very rare because IT specialists and programmers make every attempt to ensure this does not happen. Hence, telehealth providers cannot afford the blow that comes with data breaches and hence require the implementation of an efficient data breach response plan. On its part, this plan should outline measures for noticing the breach, preventing the spread of the problem, informing the affected people, and notifying the relevant authorities. Organized response enables lessening the adverse impacts of the incident for the patients and also decreases the amount of financial and legal repercussions for the provider.
Conclusion
Telehealth such as Medi Bridge has been rapidly adopted with both the patient and the healthcare professionals becoming the key beneficiaries. They have also however brought about new problems with special reference to issues of privacy and security. Telehealth providers can ensure patients’ data will be preserved appropriately and build the public’s trust using the following ways: They should be following the regulations and standards, best practices, and adopt modern technologies. In the future, the IT industry will remain key in the provision of telemedicine.
Hence, if privacy and security are to remain the benchmarks, the future of telehealth is assured as more and more people come to embrace it.