Recent studies have stated that there is only a quarter of all healthcare providers that don’t use mobile healthcare. The remaining seventy-five percent of the people are using mobile healthcare to book appointments, get their diagnosis and what not Lenovo Yoga Book C930!
The advent of cell phones has been rather dramatic PC Magazine Reviews. But what’s even more interesting is how they’ve managed to take over the realm of medicine. There is a wide array of brilliant options available in the mobile healthcare industry. Wireless wearable tools that maintain the record of your blood sugar, your sleep, the number of steps you take throughout the day, and even the amount of calories you burn each day, can be stored in your device.
Astounding apps that can help you direct your health to the right direction such as fitness trackers or the apps such as Brain Test that enables you to diagnose a deleterious disease like dementia are the boon of the century The Best Laptops for 2019. Shopping for a notebook is .
These apps have integrated their space in the general public’s everyday lives. The extravagant pace that the smartphones have evolved with has led to the creation of health applications for consumers all over the world. Looking back on history tells us that the concept of mobile healthcare is not a new idea. AT&T was working on the phenomenon way back in 1949.
Mobile healthcare is a vast industry that is predicted to expand to nearly $12 billion by the end of this year. With such high stakes and data breaches becoming a norm, healthcare providers are in a frenzy all over the world TODAY KOS.
The communication between the providers and patients undergoes various mediums. Emails, text, images, video and any other route of sharing medical records are brought in use to transmit a patient’s data to and from their device. Such widespread use of technology has alerted the healthcare professionals about the risk of data breaches and violations of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
The method of mobile facilities to convey information is a sensitive issue and demands a severe level of research and reconsideration. The privacy of each patient is paramount to the healthcare providers, for which, they need to remain close to the boundaries set by the law. Mobile devices are not as safe as people would like them to be. They are more likely to fail than any other thing!
There couldn’t have been a better time to address this issue. Here is a list of critical concerns in mobile healthcare security options.
Complications
The complete number of devices that come in contact while sharing a patient’s personal information is where everything can go wrong. If any link in this chain gets harmed, the data could be lost. Organizations have been working tirelessly to find a solution for the regulation analysis and leakage control. The plethora of gadgets already involved and the countless individuals that include doctors, nurses, and even patients have made this ubiquitous device a danger.
Since the information is easy to access, the privacy needs to be increased at least twofold to diminish this rising concern. The increase in mobile devices for healthcare is not losing momentum any time soon. So it would be better to create a system with advanced technology and creative manipulation.
The steps to security
Through applications or well-intentioned work personnel, anyone could be responsible for an app’s inability to adhere to federal policies on privacy and security. Consistent security checks and highly maintained configurations are the first steps in securing data.
Limiting the personnel with access to the information, people like ex-employees and Internees is an easy to implement and sensible choice for the long run.
Encryption
Enforced encryption between apps and installation of passwords on the device level is another step to secure patient’s data. Avoidance in using a compromised version of the apps through careful monitoring of the app’s integrity and implementation of an auto-wipe system, in case of theft and breaches, would further solidify the efforts.
Prevention
Avoiding unsafe data sharing sites at all costs is an absolute necessity. Audit and device logs could both come in handy. The rather obvious action of limiting access is critical as well.
Current attacks on data have reiterated the importance of next-generation safety approaches. The right behavior would bring the reward, the organizations seek. In simpler terms, understanding user behavior and data tracking patterns would make it easy to secure the information in the first place.
Tomorrow’s security lies in the thefts of yesterdays.
Mobile devices, in healthcare, need smarter solutions. Yes, a little investment and planning on this front would undoubtedly reap significant benefits. To assist the growing concern for security, the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has developed a five-step process to manage the mobile devices. Even with the presence of a model, it is hard for companies and individuals to secure data at every level.
Authentication control tops the concern of every company utilizing mobile devices. The danger of data getting harvested in case of getting released on a public cloud is inexplicably hazardous. With hackers and viruses on the loose, installation of security and automatic locks to put a strong defense against malware is a necessity.
Well-Planned protection against harmful apps can only prevent infiltration. Compromising security or privacy is not an option for the user and the service provider as well. Encryption to the lowest level, emails, is deemed necessary. For none of the unconcerned individuals should view a patient’s data, not even accidentally.
The widespread use of BYOD in the healthcare industry is a sensitive subject. However, it is an issue to be addressed nonetheless. There is a potential for severe damage to an organization’s raw data. Training and proper education to the concerned staff should be made mandatory.
Unapproved devices should be under restrictions within the workplace. If not, the use of file-sharing software and applications should be banned at least to ensure the security. Targeting your vulnerabilities to improve the system would be beneficial to both concerned parties.
Final Word
The use of mobile healthcare will only grow in the coming years. Billions of dollars would become an investment in wearable and mobile applications that assist diabetes, dementia and what not. However, with advances in technology, there would also be an increase in dangers.
People, in general, need to be careful with the steps that are taken for securing their personal and health information. Psychological manipulation becomes child’s play when such sensitive information is involved. Be smart today for a safe tomorrow!