Protecting Patient Privacy Safeguards Pharmacists’ Professional Reputation

In today’s digital age, processes have been significantly streamlined across health care but further issues stemming from technology and social media have been introduced. Despite both the novel dangers and opportunities social media use presents on a daily basis, pharmacists have a permanent goal of protecting patient privacy at all costs.

“Breaches in confidentiality and privacy might result in the patient raising a complaint to your state board of pharmacy to have the board look into your ethical and professional practice,” Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, vice president of health care risk management at the Healthcare Provider Service Organization (HPSO) and manager of health care risk management at Aon, told Drug Topics. “So not only can breaching privacy have an effect on your reputation, but it actually could result in the board sanctioning your license.”

In part 1 of our interview with Flynn, she delved into the main considerations all providers should be privy to regarding their patients’ medical privacy. These considerations, however, may be even more meaningful for community pharmacists—health care providers interacting and connecting with the general public in their daily practice more commonly than most other providers.

Pharmacies and the businesses that operate them have a different set of incentives than other providers and health care destinations. Because of many community pharmacies having to operate a business on top of providing valued care to their patients, their creativity in reaching the community and setting themselves apart from other destinations is almost unmatched.

Due to the unique business model and community positioning pharmacies must operate within, their activities on social media and need to keep patient privacy safe often come with risks. As a health care provider and expert on risk management within this space, Flynn joined Drug Topics to discuss pharmacists’ unique spot regarding patient privacy in the world we live in today.

READ MORE: Technology & Data Resource Center

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