At the 2012 ONC Annual Meeting, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a new education initiative including a set of online tools to provide health care providers and organizations practical tips on ways to protect their patients’ protected health information when using mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
ONC is the abbreviation for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, a position created by Executive Order in 2004 and written into legislation by the HITECH Act. The ONC’s purpose is to promote a national health Information technology infrastructure and oversee its development.
The education initiative, called Mobile Devices: Know the RISKS. Take the STEPS. PROTECT and SECURE Health Information, is available at www.HealthIT.gov/mobiledevices. It offers educational resources such as videos, easy-to-download fact sheets, and posters to promote best ways to safeguard patient health information.
Tags: January 2013
