Posts Tagged ‘PHRs’
Best Presentation on Privacy and Security for PHRs
April 12, 2007
Just posted by HIMSS Weekly Insider is a powerpoint by Lisa A. Gallagher, BSEE, CISM, HIMSS director of Privacy and Security, titled Privacy and Security Issues for PHRs. She presented this to a HIMSS task force I serve on and I consider it one of the most thorough treatments of this important issue I have seen. An important point is that HIPAA only applies to PHRs for “covered entities” like providers and health plans. It does not cover PHRs which are developed by employers or private health care websites. She outlines patient concerns including transmission of data through data exchanges, data mining, correcting errors, etc. What is the issue? “It is about who accesses, who owns, and who controls the information stored in a PHR, and how that information might be used.”
Definitely read this powerpoint. I hope it will become a white paper or journal article soon so it can be cited appropriately.
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AHIC Members Disagree over PHR Certification
March 20, 2007
According the Government HealthIT, the American Health Information Community (AHIC) “sided with the majority on its Consumer Empowerment Workgroup and voted unanimously in favor of the certification recommendation.” The group favors “teathered” PHRs – one’s that are populated with information from providers and/or insurance companies which requires standards on data storage and transfer. The dissenters, lead by a Markle Foundation representative, says that the technology is too new for standardization and it could stifle innovation.
My opinion is to agree with the point that the field is relatively new and difficult to standardize, however, we are at a tipping point in terms of adoption and standards, particularly around security, could enhance and speed adoption and the risk of not standardizing is a potential for a security leak which could significantly damage adoption by the general public. I do not agree that standardization would hurt innovation.
Share this:Personalized Health Information Act
March 13, 2007
HealthcareITNews reports that “Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I. ) plans to jumpstart the use of personal health records through a trust fund that pays doctors.” This will be an incentive program to give doctors $3 per patient using a PHR. Kennedy sees PHRs as an empowerment tool for citizens. Others quoted see them as essential for disease management.
You can read more on Kennedy’s website.
Two Announcements on Government Support for PHRs
March 13, 2007
In Government HealthIT today is a report on two announcements – one by HHS and one by ONCHIT regarding the enabling of personal health information. “HHS has announced it will launch a nationwide network of local and regional collaboratives. At the same time, the department will release a request for proposals for a new version of a health care network of networks that would be able to give consumers unprecedented control over the dissemination of their personal health care information.”
Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT), said the government will seek proposals for a state-hosted or regionally hosted network that could enable consumers to direct their personal health information toward — or away from — specific health care organizations.”
It will be worthwhile to follow these two initiatives as they unfold.
Share this:How Private are Proprietary PHRs?
March 7, 2007
According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, not very private. The article title tells it all, “Why Marketers want to see inside your medical cabinet.” They specifically cite WebMD which has just released a PHR supported by an advertising model. Such sites may protect your privacy until you click on a targeted ad (based on drug and diagnostic information you have entered) and then once you have clicked through and request a coupon, you have given someone your identity tied to a diagnosis or a drug, the goldmine for advertisers. The conclusion of the authors, which I agree with, is that PHRs should be free of advertising or that consumers should be advised against using PHRs with targeted advertising. Government certification of PHRs should include such protections.
Authors are: Joseph Turow is a professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Niche Envy: Marketing Discrimination in the Digital Age.” Robert Gellman is a privacy and information policy consultant in Washington, D.C. Judith Turow is an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital.
Blue Cross in PA to Offer PHR on Cell Phones
January 25, 2007
In an story from InfomationWeek, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania plans to offer a PHR on cell phones to its 600,000 members. The informaiton will come from claims data and includes “recent diagnoses, prescribed medications, allergies, and immunization history.” It will also be accessible from PDAs and PCs. “
To ensure the secure wireless access to that data, BCNEPA has licensed Diversinet Corp.’s MobiSecure Wallet and Vault soft token, wireless authentication products.”
But how familiar are users with mobile security and how much do they trust it? The potential advantages I see include its portability (in case of an ER visit) and the ability to deliver health reminders.
Share this:PHRs Sprotting Up Everywhere
January 24, 2007
WebMD is not only previewing their new website design here, but are also promoting a PHR called Personal Health Manager. This offering includes a variety of health management tools and benefits management, however, the preview site lacks a tour of features. It does attempt to provide some reassurance about privacy. There is also an interesting announcement which says “COMING SOON! Sign-in for employees and health plan members using Personal Health Manager powered by WebMD.” So it appears they have been marketing this to employers and health plans.
The other big announcement is Revolution Health, which received coverage in the Wall Street Journal. This Web 2.0 tool (rumored to be written with Rudy on Rails), already has the beginnings of social networking with 45,000 messages posted and more that that for ratings. It also features the ability to manage healthcare expenses, a much need service for consumers. It also include vetted content from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic among others.
Share this:Two PHR Offerings
January 20, 2007
Medic Alert announced that it will give free PHRs to families of deployed military service personnel. The project includes “a free MedicAlert membership that, includes a PHR maintained in a secure database, personalized stainless steel bracelet, pendant, or dog-tag, emergency member wallet card, and 24-hour emergency response and family notification services.” Medic Alert offers both online and thumb-drive PHRs. This is a generous offer and to be commended. Hopefully, there will be more information on their website soon.
The second story involves myNDMA.com, National Digital Medical Archive’s (NDMA) Citizens Health Portal, which was featured on NBC Nightly News. Why should this product be featured in a broad field of new products? It does have at least two unique features – the ability to store medical images (not sure how easy it is for patients to obtain these digitally from their provider or hospital) and the ability to have records faxed from the web application to a doctor or hospital. In addition, they offer a community forum for “for consumers to have a voice in the direction of personal health records.” It will be interesting to see if this concept of a forum gains traction.
Share this:AHIC Consumer Empowerment Workgroup meeting January 10, 2007
January 16, 2007
The workgroup heard testimony on security and PHRs. According to HITS, “While personal health records are still very much in the infancy stage, PHR vendor privacy and security policies are embryonic at best, at least according to a review of 30 publicly available policies presented Jan. 10 to the consumer empowerment work group of the American Health Information Community HHS advisory panel.” According to a powerpoint by Altarum,
- Policies are highly variable and not particularly broad in scope
- None had more than 18 of the 31 criteria
- Remaining 29 (97%) covered less than half of criteria
- Many emphasized security procedures or Internet privacy policies of the vendor’s web site, rather than protections of PHR data.
I am glad that AHIC is shining a light on security in PHRs. As I have said repeatedly, unless the consumer can trust that their data is secure, adoption will continue to lag, no matter what other benefits are promoted.
Share this:Patrick Kennedy Supports PHRs
January 13, 2007
In an article on the Most Wired website, Congressman Patrick Kennedy supports incentives for consumers to adopt PHRs. Specifically he sees web -based PHRs which are controlled by the consumer as potentially reducing medical errors and enhancing medical decision making. The Personalized Health Information Act he proposes promotes PHRs which are free of advertising and are secure. He promotes the idea of online communication with provides through the PHR as well.
My only concern is that such a bill could be too prescriptive about PHR features while the technology is still young and being sorted out in the market place. However, the encouragement toward adoption is welcome.
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