Why you should care about controlling your personal health data
Nathan E Botts
/ Categories: Privacy, Security

Why you should care about controlling your personal health data

Learning to balance privacy with care continuity and participation

The crux of a major issue in healthcare is the balancing act between the need to exchange patient data for advancing medical research and developing more effective drugs and AI tools, and upholding strict privacy rights and data protection standards. A promising solution to this conundrum is emerging in the form of a new wave of businesses that are developing a revamped data economy.

These businesses are diverse in their operations and methodologies, employing a range of technologies and strategies, and catering to various demographics. They are driven by different motivations and personal convictions. However, they are united in their belief that the current system of health data exchange, which often involves the selling and buying of personal health information without explicit patient consent or knowledge, is fundamentally flawed.

These pioneering businesses are striving to build a system that facilitates the sharing of individual health data while concurrently adhering to stringent privacy standards. This innovative approach could potentially revolutionize the healthcare industry by enabling meaningful, consent-based data exchange, thereby fueling advancements in drug development and AI tools, while also respecting and prioritizing patients' rights to privacy.

In today's digital age, controlling your personal health data has become more important than ever before. With the increasing amount of data breaches and cyber-attacks, it is important to understand the significance of safeguarding your personal health information. There are several reasons why you should care about controlling your personal health data.

Firstly, it is important to maintain the privacy of your health information. Your medical records contain sensitive and personal information, including medical history, prescriptions, and test results. Unauthorized access to this information can lead to identity theft, insurance fraud, and discrimination. Secondly, controlling your personal health data can also help you make informed decisions about your health. By having access to your health data, you can keep track of your medical history, stay informed about your medications, and monitor your progress toward achieving your health goals. This information can also be shared with your healthcare provider, helping them provide better care and treatment options. Thirdly, controlling your personal health data can also contribute to medical research and advancements.

When sharing your health data with researchers, you can help them develop new treatments and cures for various medical conditions. However, it is important to ensure that your personal information is protected and anonymized to prevent any potential harm. Lastly, controlling your personal health data can also help you save money on healthcare expenses. Access to your health information allows you to track your medical expenses, identify any inconsistencies, and dispute any errors. This can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and save money on healthcare costs in the long run. In conclusion, controlling your personal health data is essential for maintaining privacy, making informed decisions about your health, contributing to medical research, and saving money on healthcare expenses.

It is important to take the necessary steps to safeguard your personal health information and ensure it is used appropriately and responsibly. By doing so, you can take control of your health and well-being in the digital age.

Previous Article How to protect yourself from health information thread hijacking
Next Article EPIC's Call to Arms: Protecting Consumer Data
Print
1079 Rate this article:
No rating
0Upvote 0Downvote
Tags: data brokerAIclinical trialshealthcare researchHealth eProfileHealth eBroker

Related articles

Please login or register to post comments.

All information, thought, and references provided on Health eConsultation is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Health eConsutlation currently makes no attempt at HIPAA privacy compliance. Any trade names used are information and details given for the convenience of users and do not constitute an endorsement from Health eConsultation.

Use this site at your own risk, and do not use the information to make medical or legal decisions without first seeking guidance from a medical or legal professional.

Plain and simple, ads are used to help pay for the cost of the server and resources required to serve Health eConsultation members and provide an objective resource of health information and health education. Subscribers of Health eConsultation can access the site without having to view ads.
OUR SERVICES

Health Education

We are passionate about the therapeutic benefits that can be derived from appropriately applied health education .

More informed patients are healthier and less costly to provide care to.

We seek to give consumers and patients a voice, because in the end we are them.

Evidence based practices is what nurtures a thriving health system.

HEALTH IT EDUCATION - KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

 
WHO WE ARE
Health eConsultation members believe that health improvement is about patient knowledge, motivation and opportunity to act in concert with healthcare professionals to improve their condition.
OUR PURPOSE
Our primary purpose is to build a community around unbiased Health IT education so that people are able to focus on the information they need without having to navigate the vast amount of information that is available on the web.
LEVERAGE VS BUILD
Health eConsultation seeks to leverage responsible, engaging and, hopefully, motivating education, and information resources. The idea is not to scrape the content of other sites, but to investigate, synthesize, and report in order to create an evidence-base founded on increased rigor and research.
RESOURCES & REFERENCES
Health eConsultation educational material and website information are provided primarily through free resources, although some sites mentioned might require further registration and payment for particular membership or services.
DISCLAIMER
All information, thought, and references provided on Health eConsultation is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Health eConsutlation currently makes no attempt at HIPAA privacy compliance. Use this site at your own risk, and do not use the information to make medical decisions without first seeking guidance from a medical professonal.
CUSTOMIZED LEARNING
By registering with Health eConsultation you can participate in comments, ratings, and bookmarking. You can also keep track of the time that you spend learning about certain topics for your own records or to share whith health professionals you are working with.