Some scholars, writers and innovators believe the world moved into the age of Web 2.0 at the dawn of the 21st century. It makes sense, then, to see the recent rise of advanced medical technologies as the beginning of Health 2.0, or the proliferation of software and mobile tools in the healthcare industry. The Health 2.0 term can be used to describe how these new tools have promoted collaboration and widely exchange information between patients, their care providers and others.
The roots of this important Health 2.0 era can be found back nearly two decades ago, when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was first put in place by President Bill Clinton. The act, known as HIPAA, was designed to defend the privacy of health information and to create a uniform system for spreading this information across multiple channels. HIPAA-compliant services have been called into question with the rise of digital technology today.
Indeed, Health 2.0 is most widely seen now in the number of mobile healthcare apps and text messaging services available by medical providers. Of course, by allowing this information to go digital, there have been a number of questions raised about patient security, especially when considering how HIPAA is involved in all of this. Database virtualization and the growing number of BYOD, or bring-your-own-device, policies across the industry have also fueled these concerns.
Luckily, professionals in the medical field have made great strides in securing mobile healthcare apps as well as medical text messaging options that are available to patients. These policies end up saving providers money on business expenses, but they require great attention to ensure their compliance with HIPPA laws and regulations. There is no standard for BYOD policies, and they must be monitored carefully.
Most medical providers know that, though. The most advanced mobile healthcare apps tend to cover the unexpected issues of a stolen, lost or broken mobile device and what that means for the sensitive medical information contained within. In the Health 2.0 age, all mobile healthcare apps need to be looked at under a microscope for security reasons. Major providers understand the risks and, therefore, can make decisions to help keep your medical info safe and secure.