Web privacy and security are critical concerns for healthcare organizations and consumers – that’s nothing new. However, the introduction of new regulations around tracking tools and consumer targeting means that protecting sensitive data is more complex than ever. At a recent event hosted by KC Health Communicators, AJ Templin, Digital Marketing Manager, shared essential information for anyone trying to ensure their online privacy and security measures are up to date.
In a bulletin updated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this past June, regulators addressed the intersection between HIPAA rights and online tracking. The bulletin specifically targets tracking technologies – such as cookies used by websites and apps – and clarifies that healthcare organizations and their partners must abide by HIPAA rules when using these tools. This includes safeguarding protected health information (PHI) collected through tracking technology vendors like Google and Meta. Organizations must obtain explicit patient consent before sharing PHI with third parties. Failure to do so can result in severe legal penalties, as well as the loss of trust among employees, consumers, and the public…
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