(Reuters Health)—More than 70% of healthcare data breaches in the U.S. have involved sensitive demographic or financial information that could fuel identity theft, a new study suggests. When a healthcare company is hacked, criminals gain access not only to health information, but also to demographic and financial data that could compromise patients’ privacy and financial…
E-Health, Telemedicine Pose Challenges, Offer Benefits for Patients with Arthritis
(Reuters Health)—As more and more sick patients are going online and using social media to search for answers about their health, it’s raising a lot of thorny ethical questions for doctors. “The internet and ready access to vast amounts of information are now permanent aspects of how we live our lives, including how we think…
Banner Health Says Hackers May Have Gained Access to Patient Data
(Reuters)—Banner Health, a non-profit organization that runs a chain of hospitals, says hackers may have gained unauthorized access to patient, physician and beneficiary data. Phoenix-based Banner said it was notifying 3.7 million patients, health plan members, food and beverage customers, physicians and healthcare providers about the attack, which occurred between June 23 and July 7….
Health Apps Often Lack Privacy Policies & Share Our Data
(Reuters Health)—Just because a health app has a privacy policy doesn’t mean the data will remain private, an analysis of mobile tools for diabetes suggests. In fact, privacy policies appear rare, and when they do exist, most state that user data will be collected and half warn that medical information will be shared with third…
How Technology Can Benefit Rheumatology Practices
Electronic health records, mobile apps, telemedicine, patient portals—new technologies offer rheumatologists more efficiency and patients greater knowledge. Here are a few ways these technologies can aid a practice…
HIPAA Security Standards: What Rheumatologists Need to Know
Maintain compliance with updated federal rules governing privacy protection for patient health information
Meaningful Use and Patient Engagement – Supporting eHealth Literacy
It is no surprise that understanding health information and navigating the U.S. health system can overwhelm even the savviest patients with advanced literacy skills. Data from the National Adult Literacy Survey suggest that nearly 50% of all adults have problems understanding many aspects of healthcare, including prescriptions, appointment slips, and health education materials.
HHS Enforces Stricter Rules on HIPAA
As of February 17, 2010, entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), such as group health plans and their business associates, will have to take certain actions to ensure continued compliance with the privacy and security provisions of the act.