Smart Technologies, Data Sharing & Patient Privacy
As we’ve discussed throughout the semester, data gathered from the EHR and other HIT technologies can play a key role in patient care, patient engagement, quality improvement and population health. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) consists of networked smart devices that gather, share and receive data with the goal of providing more timely, precise and tailored healthcare. These technologies gather vast amounts of personal data, much of it behind the scenes. The rise of IoMT technologies raises an important ethical dilemma: how do we balance personal privacy with the potential to improve health and healthcare through the harvesting of personal data?
ASSIGNMENT
1: Explore the following resources and conduct your own research to learn more about the IoMT.
· Dimitrov D. V. (2016). Medical Internet of Things and Big Data in Healthcare. Healthcare informatics research, 22(3), 156-63.
· Coburn, Kathryn R. 2016. The Internet or Medical Things. Scitech Lawyer12, (3) (Spring): 18-20.
· Marr, B. (2018). Why the internet of medical things (iomt) will start to transform healthcare in 2018.
· Marriott, N. (2017). Why the internet of medical things is the future of healthcare.
2: Identify and describe a smart IOT technology that gathers and shares data to support patient monitoring, health promotion, medication management, clinical decision-making or any other aspect of care. Be sure to choose a technology that is in use and which has a published privacy policy, typically found within the links at the bottom of the product website. Include a link to the website at the end of your description.
3: Respond to the following questions:
· What ethical principles apply to the use of this technology? How and why should they be applied? Refer to the eHealth Code of Ethics and Chapter 5 of your text to provide evidence for your conclusions.
· What personal data does the technology collect?
· How and with whom is personal data shared? Review and summarize the manufacturer’s privacy policy along with any other information you can find about how personal data is shared.
· Does HIPAA legislation adequately protect patient privacy related to the use of the technology? Why or why not? What additional protections (if any) should be put into place to protect patient privacy related to the use of this technology?
· Do the benefits provided by this technology outweigh the privacy risks? Why or why not?