Telemedicine App Development Strategies for Protecting Patient Data

1. Telemedicine App Development Strategies for Protecting Patient Data The phrase ‘Data is the new oil’ is a reality of present times. Every modern industry is heavily dependent on data, and therefore, guarding this critical resource has become extremely crucial. While data security is necessary for every industry, it is more so for industries such as healthcare and telemedicine that handle sensitive information. In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of data security in telemedicine and how healthcare providers can follow the best industry practices when engaging in telemedicine app development. What is Data Security in the Context of Telemedicine? We know it’s necessary to have strict measures in place at the time of telehealth app development. Here’s why. Data security in telemedicine is the digital extension of patient-doctor confidentiality. Any compromise in this information can have serious consequences. Critical patient information can be misused to carry out scams or identity theft. It could not only prompt those affected to take legal action but it also weakens the foundation of trust that a healthcare business would have taken years to build. Why the Healthcare Industry Cannot Afford to Skimp on Data Security For a long time, the healthcare industry has been prone to data security breaches and it has been a costly affair. According to an article published in the HIPAA Journal in 2023, IBM identified this industry as the darling of cybercriminals for the 13th year running (measured from April 2022 to March 2023) with the average cost of a breach gaining +8.22% YoY to $10.9Mn and a staggering +53.3% over the three year average. The significant cost impact of a healthcare security breach can be further gauged from Statista which puts the financial sector at a distant second averaging only $5.9Mn per breach over the same period. All of this, despite Western governments mandating companies to comply with legal frameworks such as HIPAA in the USA and GDPR in the European Union to ensure watertight data handling mechanisms. As telemedicine gained immense popularity during the recent COVID pandemic thanks to its remote consultation capabilities and with all the data being collected by the service providers for their records, the healthcare industry represented something of a treasure trove for hackers. Little wonder then that some of the biggest healthcare data breaches ever recorded were all in 2022. Prominent names such as Shields Health Care Group, Broward Health, Morley Companies, ARcare, and OneTouchPoint all feature on the list with data of a few million patients compromised.

2. Telemedicine App Development Strategies for Protecting Patient Data When planning for telemedicine software, you need to ask the developer team to implement measures for effective patient data protection. In addition to that, here are certain best practices you can consider for your telehealth services app. Using secure communication protocols Using strong, uncommon passwords Data encryption across devices, at all times Data encryption across devices, at all times Implementing measures to prevent data loss Regular audits Software updates VPN usage Providing secure teleconference space Providing secure teleconference space Use of latest technology Taking queue from industry best practices Providing employee training Planning for contingencies Scale Up Your Healthcare Business with Secure Telemedicine App Development Are you looking for a telemedicine app development solution? At EMed HealthTech, we have been developing apps tailored to the unique needs of every stakeholder in the telemedicine business for 7+ years. Our secure, high-quality telemedicine app development platform assures increased patient satisfaction, in turn helping to boost revenues. With a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals, we have served over 500 clients across more than 34 countries. Get in touch with our experts today to know more about how our development team can provide a foolproof, failsafe telemedicine app for your healthcare business.