The 2012 Government Health IT Conference & Exhibition will feature an education track on critical mobile health technology on Monday, June 11. “Mobile Devices & Health Care: Securing Information, Protecting Privacy,” will include a discussion of the Office of National Coordinator's (ONC) several ongoing mHealth initiatives designed to explore the challenges to securing mobile devices, document privacy and security good practices and research consumer attitudes and preferences with using mobile devices.

The session will be conducted by Kathryn Marchesini, JD, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ONC Office of the Chief Privacy Officer, and Will Phelps, IT Security Specialist, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ONC, Office of the Chief Privacy Officer.

HIMSS: Can you provide a brief overview of what you plan to discuss during your education track at the Government Health IT Conference & Exhibition?

Marchesini: ONC’s Office of the Chief Privacy Officer strives to help build a culture where privacy and security are respected and valued. We believe it is important to inspire confidence and trust in health IT and electronic health information exchange by protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of health information.

[See also: Government Health IT Conference to explore statewide HIE.]

Mobile technology is a great equalizer in the delivery of healthcare. At the Government Health IT Conference, we plan to discuss the various mHealth initiatives ONC’s Office of the Chief Privacy Officer manages that focus on health care provider and patient use of mobile technology. Our current privacy and security mHealth portfolio includes efforts underway designed to:

• Explore and address the challenges to securing mobile devices;
• Bring awareness and understanding to providers of care of already-existing and emerging good practices and practical tips for safeguarding health information while using mobile devices;
• Identify and explore patients’ attitudes and preferences regarding mHealth privacy and security; and
• Improve our understanding of the security implications and concerns associated with remote health monitoring technology.

As the United States moves forward with the adoption of health IT and the promotion of nationwide health information exchange to improve healthcare, privacy and security of health information are at the forefront of the country’s health IT efforts.

HIMSS: What do you see as the primary challenges—and opportunities—facing healthcare as mobile devices become an even more ubiquitous part of daily life?

Marchesini: Regardless of who holds an individual’s health information or what technology is used, individuals need to trust the entity employs reasonable and appropriate safeguards to protect the information. ONC wants to ensure the privacy and security of health information inspires confidence and trust in health IT and electronic health information exchange.

[See also: Smart contact lenses, vital sign sensors to kick mobile health up a notch.]

Mobile device functionality and capabilities have grown significantly and use of these devices has continued to increase in health care delivery. Surveys and research show there has been rapid adoption of mobile devices in the healthcare industry, and it is only expected to have significant uptake in the future. Given the rapid adoption of mobile devices and increased availability of resources for those devices against the backdrop of reported breach incidents, there has been a growing concern about the use of these devices because of their vulnerability. Balancing the expanded interest and use of mobile devices with privacy and security safeguards will be a challenge that needs to be continually monitored.

HIMSS: What are you most looking forward to at the Government Health IT Conference & Exhibition?

Marchesini: We look forward to learning more about different health IT initiatives going on in the public sector; and the different approaches organizations are taking to use health IT to provide patient care and transform healthcare.

Kathryn Marchesini, JD, serves as an expert analyst and advisor to the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) on privacy and security activities, implications, and issues regarding health information technology (health IT) and electronic health information exchange (HIE). She works closely with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and other operating divisions of HHS, as well as with other government agencies and other countries to help ensure a coordinated approach to the privacy, security, and data stewardship of electronic health information. Ms. Marchesini also leads several health IT privacy and security projects and participates in the development and implementation of federal educational outreach efforts to inform various stakeholders about privacy and security.

The 2012 Government Health IT Conference & Exhibition will be held June 11-12, Washington DC. Register for the conference here. This article originally published on the HIMSS.org News page.