mHealth Data Security: The Need for HIPAA-Compliant Standardization

TLDR

The growing use of mobile devices and wireless networks has highlighted a critical lack of standardized, HIPAA‑compliant data security, creating a barrier to care. This article reviews the issue and invites discussion on establishing such standards. It outlines current security requirements, existing standards, their limitations, and proposes recommendations to overcome these gaps.

Abstract

The rise in the use of mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet personal computers, and wireless medical devices, as well as the wireless networks that enable their use, has raised new concerns for data security and integrity. Standardized Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)-compliant electronic data security that will allow ubiquitous use of mobile health technologies is needed. The lack of standardized data security to assure privacy, to allow interoperability, and to maximize the full capabilities of mobile devices presents a significant barrier to care. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the issue and to encourage discussion of this important topic. Current security needs, standards, limitations, and recommendations for how to address this barrier to care are discussed.