Technology has brought a welcome change to the healthcare industry. Patients now have access to telehealth, which has made healthcare more efficient and closer to home. According to McKinsey & Company, there has been a shift from 11% use of telehealth in 2019 to 76% now interested in using telehealth going forward due to COVID-19. While there are more people participating in telehealth, it’s good to be aware of your privacy and security.
Below are some recommendations from MITRE to maintain patient telehealth privacy and security in these challenging times.
Before Telehealth Sessions
- Be aware of updated privacy and security practices from your healthcare provider.
During Telehealth Sessions
- Pick a private location to hold your telehealth session so you can control who hears your conversation.
- Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for securing the device that you use for your telehealth session.
- Before beginning a conversation with your healthcare provider, make sure you remove technology devices near you such as home security cameras, voice assistances, or other devices to make sure they do not capture potentially sensitive information.
- Be aware of what is displayed in the background during video calls and remove any personal information you do not want to share.
As telehealth becomes the new normal, understanding these privacy and security tips will help you be safer when interacting with your healthcare provider. To learn more about these privacy and security tips, visit MITRE.
