As a board-certified aesthetic professional, it goes without saying that you go to great lengths to protect patient privacy. However, it now appears that you may need to go even further. Earlier this year, the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new HIPAA rules than not only update the Act’s privacy and security [...]
Tag Archives | patient privacy
The 5 Cs of Social Healthcare: Create a Code of Conduct for Online Interactions (Part IV in a series)
No doubt, you’ve heard the horror stories: In Missouri, an OB-GYN is reprimanded for posting inappropriate comments about a patient on Facebook. In Rhode Island, a doctor is fired and fined after revealing identifiable patient information on the site. And in St. Louis, a cosmetic surgeon is sued for negligence after the digital information in [...]
Is Answering Questions Online Bad for Your (Business) Health?
With hundreds of thousands of doctor answers, RealSelf has a fair sense of how doctors view participating in online Q&A with patients. Most plastic surgeons, dermatologists, cosmetic dentists and related specialties see it as a legitimate extension of their online marketing efforts, or simply, a way to help consumers make better informed decisions about cosmetic [...]
5 Ways to Protect Patient Privacy (Yet Still Promote Your Practice)
TMI. Let’s face it, in a world where Kim Kardashian tweets her every thought, sharing Too Much Information is becoming a national pastime. That’s fine if you’re a reality TV star or other self-promoting celebrity. After all, Kanye West’s gal-pal doesn’t have to worry about HIPAA or other privacy laws. But for doctors, oversharing on [...]
The Power of Patient Photos: Best Practices for Doctors
If you use patient photos on your practice website, you already know they’re a great way to showcase your work, encourage visitors to explore further and, hopefully, generate new business. Unfortunately, they can also generate serious legal consequences for doctors who don’t take the appropriate steps to safeguard the privacy of the people in them. [...]
Doctors Can — and Should — Respond to Online Reviews
Patient privacy. Professional ethics. The occasional horror story about a medical professional sharing patient information online. It’s no wonder some doctors believe they can’t respond to online reviews, a belief that’s not only incorrect but bad for patients, doctors and the aesthetics industry as a whole. There’s a range of options, says Jeff Segal, CEO [...]
As Facebook Goes Public, Issues of Privacy Remain
No doubt you’ve heard the news that Facebook is going public, a move that will value the company at $75–$100 billion, make Mark Zuckerberg a billionaire 28 times over and further the company’s reach into the lives of the 845 million — and counting — people who have accounts. That’s quite a target market for [...]
