The coronavirus requires everyone to make adjustments. Employees must work from home as much as possible, events will be canceled and those with colds must stay home. This affects current contracts, employers and privacy in the workplace. The coronavirus outbreak also has major implications for how care can be delivered to patients. The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) is therefore broadening the options for delivering care remotely.
Due to the corona virus and the increase in the number of people with corona infections, healthcare providers are facing large crowds. The NZa considers it important that people get the care they need. The NZa is therefore setting aside possible barriers to remote care in all care sectors. Examples include a contract condition in the NZa rules or the obligation of face-to-face contact.
Physical face-to-face consultations between the patient and health care provider are in principle a prerequisite for claiming care from the health insurer.
To reduce the risk of infection and help relieve pressure on hospitals, the NZa has temporarily broadened regulations for face-to-face consultations. This allows hospitals to do the initial consultation with a patient remotely. That means a digital or telephone consultation. They can declare this to the health insurer, without it affecting reimbursement. This way, people do not have to come to the hospital if it is not really necessary.
The exception will take effect from March 1 until the national government and RIVM guidelines no longer apply. After termination, there will be a one-week transition period.
The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens emphasizes that care should be taken when using (video) chat services. For conversations in which sensitive data are discussed, the available secure means of communication should preferably be used. That is first and foremost the telephone.
Many healthcare organizations have secure options for image calling or chat. These systems meet the strict standards set for healthcare (NEN7510).
Not all health care providers have secure options for video calling or chatting. In that case, they should be aware of any alternatives, such as FaceTime, Skype or WhatsApp. Use these during the corona crisis on rare occasions, is the advice of the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.
"Good care takes precedence over privacy in this crisis, but take important safeguards. In doing so, be sure to discuss as little sensitive data as possible. For example, don't mention names, but instead use things like calendar numbers or patient numbers. Where possible, do inform the person involved of the privacy risks when discussing personal data via a consumer app. Where possible, ask permission from the patient with whom you are speaking, for example. Are you using a chat app like Signal or Whatsapp? Then erase the chat history at least after each conversation. And remember to check if the app you are using is sending your messages encrypted. Secure your Internet connection with a strong password."
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This article also appears in the files Coronavirus, Privacy in the Workplace and Privacy in Healthcare
