Personal Data: How we use it and why

Policy changes fester among the many unwanted manifestations of corporate takeover, venture capital infusion, or of simply giving up too much control to investors. To put it mildly, visions change. To put it more bluntly, greed trumps need.  

With that, I feel this is a good time to state our position and promise on the use of personal patient and provider data. 

Not if, but how

First, let’s be clear, we believe in data. That said, we did not enter this line of healthcare business with the idea that we were going to sell personal data and collect tidy side dollars from third-party marketers. That’s not a use case for data we’re interested in.

What we are interested in is the ethical and responsible use of data for human good. Obviously, there’s plenty of room for that in healthcare. Clinical trials use data to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new medicines and treatments. Researchers must have data to study health conditions, track diseases, and identify at-risk people and populations. 

We will use data to make MediSprout better, too. In data, we can observe issues that need addressing, see trends that are developing for better or worse, or unearth more ways to streamline workflows, cut down on after-hours work, and help your day go a little smoother. Data helps us drive innovation and makes us (and hence, you) better.

It’s your call

Regardless of how we collect data via MediSprout, we will only share it in the context of healthcare advancement.

Even so, we will not share your data with any entity without first giving you the option to say yes or no. It’s your data, too. You should and will have a say in how we share it.  

And you should and will have an easy way to access any data our partnership generates so that you can put it to work in whatever manner that helps you. In fact, among the value props nestled within our mission and vision is empowerment. Access to, and control over, data feeds empowerment for both patients and providers. 

Data access (to health histories, in particular) is a growing trend among patients who desire greater engagement with providers and in the collaborative decisions that go into their treatment and care. We want providers to feel the same sense of empowerment when it comes to data so that it can be accessed and used more effectively, both for patient care and for practice growth. 

Security and privacy

In an industry that’s more vulnerable to data breaches than any other, security is paramount. At MediSprout, efficient access to data and our approach to using it does not come at the expense of security. Furthermore, we use an independent third-party specialist to validate our security and compliance technology and processes.

Enhanced and HIPAA-compliant security built into the MediSprout platform strengthens product integrity. It also affords patients and providers the confidence you need to build trust and strong relationships. 

The reality of healthcare

Efforts in good healthcare take time, there’s no getting around it. From therapeutic alliances to effective treatments to ground-breaking technologies, time makes all the difference between success or failure. 

But for some, it’s time be damned. VC funding or corporate takeovers can upend patience, values, and product integrity for the sake of faster pathways to profitability.

This, of course, is not true with every takeover or VC-back effort. But when you look closely at the troubling trend in data selling and sharing, the evidence points to you-know-what more often than not. 

Aligned with your practice

My advice for any provider in the market for a better practice management experience is to ask yourself a simple question early in your search: What kind of partner are you looking for in a practice management solution? 

Policies and philosophies about data use, management, and privacy can reveal plenty about ethics, values, and a sense of responsibility held by a prospective platform. Are you seeing alignment or a disconnect with your own ethics and values? 

We ask a similar question about prospective providers and organizations. We want partners who are looking for a higher standard in practice and EHR management and who will hold us to that standard. 

We’re interested in partners who, like us, are in this business not for the price point or side dollars, but to be part of a movement for change, for complete data transparency, and for better healthcare experiences for everybody. 

Naturally, we want to build successful businesses; yours and ours. But we believe that there is a right way to do it; a way that is ethically sound and where happiness and contentment is universal, not limited to the few, or the one.

Reach out anytime you have questions or want to chat further about our approach to data management and privacy.  

Ben Putland is the chief operating officer at MediSprout.