decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2015 Issue 4 (April)
Accepting pictures from patients? Be secure; have policy, patient agreement
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Article Overview
This article discusses how medical practices can handle photos sent by patients in a secure and policy-driven way. It covers privacy and liability concerns, the role of EHR-based photo submission tools, and the importance of patient instructions, workflow protocols, and documentation. The piece is aimed at providers and practice managers evaluating whether and how to accept patient images as part of care communication.
Why This Topic Matters
Patient-submitted images are becoming more common, and practices need a consistent approach to reduce privacy risk, manage responsibility, and keep photo-based communications from being overlooked. The article helps readers understand the operational safeguards and legal considerations involved in accepting this type of patient communication.
Article Sections
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Patient encounters
Introduces the growing use of patient-submitted photos in clinical communication and the emergence of EHR-supported sharing tools.
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Beware of legal issues with photos
Reviews privacy, liability, and responsibility concerns that can arise when practices choose to receive images from patients.
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3 musts for practices that accept photos
Outlines operational safeguards for practices that accept patient images, including sender guidance, workflow handling, and documentation.
What You Will Learn
- Why patient-submitted photos create both convenience and risk for medical practices
- How secure image-sharing technology fits into patient communication workflows
- What broad policy and process areas practices should address when receiving patient photos
- Why documentation and message handling procedures matter for patient image communications
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Practice managers
- Office staff
- Health information management professionals
- Compliance and risk management teams
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