HIPAA with Regards to Health Applications Week #5

                So lately I have been using the MyFitnessPal app to track my diet. I am using it more for the fact that I need to monitor my protein intake since I have been running so much. This got me thinking, I see so many healthcare apps and see doctors using apps on iPads, notebooks, or other electronic devices while they are assisting patients. These apps obviously make it easier for doctors/nurses/techs to do their jobs. Yet they also can lead to HIPAA violations. Companies must take a lot into account when building an app. “It is important to consider the legal implications early on in the design stage...”(Savage, L. & Caton-Peters, 2016). In fact, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) collaborated with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) created a site for app developers to figure out which laws may apply to them: https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/privacy-and-security-of-ehrs/educating-health-app-developers-regulatory-requirements/. “This interactive tool helps guide developers through a short assessment of their app with a series of questions about the nature of the app, including its function, the data it collects, and the services it provides to its users” (Savage L. 2017).

                This is a valuable tool for app developers. It will provide guidance and instruction as to what they can and cannot do with apps. This also can improve security as developers will be much more hesitant to include certain data types knowing the implications they could be facing. At the same time, users must be cautious of what they put on the apps. I have seen several people post their personal health information online. That data is not HIPAA protected since you are providing the information. Users must be just as responsible when using health apps. Make sure you read the small print, knowing what info could/could not be shared.

References:

Savage, L. & Caton-Peters, H. (2016). Educating Health App Developers about Regulatory Requirements. Retrieved from: https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/privacy-and-security-of-ehrs/educating-health-app-developers-regulatory-requirements/

Health IT Security. (2017). Mobile Security Strategies for Common Provider Concerns. Retrieved from: http://healthitsecurity.com/news/mobile-security-strategies-for-common-provider-concerns