All you need to know about compliance standards and benefits for online healthcare services

Because of the world pandemic and quarantine, online healthcare services and diagnostics have become really popular among the majority of people. However, personal data which contains clinical records is very sensitive information and cannot be shared with trusted and compliant services. In this article, Dmitri Laush, CEO of omnichannel KYC solution GetID, takes a look on the role of identity verification in telemedicine services nowadays.

The World Bank states that patient identification is very important, especially when it comes to instant healthcare service for different patients.

Digital identity verification implementation might create a new standard to be used in the future. It can improve the quality of medical services provided online. And nowadays, not every patient needs to meet a doctor in person, let’s be honest.

The Growing Issue of Medical Identity Verification

Many clinics are still using paper work to identify patients. But digital identity verification could speed up the process.

However, if clinics and hospitals store patients’ sensitive data on weak digital platforms, it can lead to ineffective medical care and identity theft.

MIT or medical identity theft nowadays has become one of the most common fraudulent problems. The scariest fact is that most people do not even know about it. If you are the victim of credit card fraud, you can lose your money. But if someone impersonates you to go to the doctor, when you are sick you might lose your life or have serious health damage. Because it is not only your story in anamnesis. The data of the fraudster can mix into the victim’s EHR (electronic health record).

Some experts say that the recent increase in medical identity theft has to deal with the conversion of patients’ digital medical records. For instance, fraudsters can steal the digital medical records to sell them on the black market.

As more and more medical institutions move to digital records, more and more cybercriminals aim to steal them. As a matter of fact, even in-house hired medical employees can try to steal and then sell valuable medical identities. So how to prevent the fraud and make sure that your data is safe?

How the Use of Identify Verification Can Improve Digital Healthcare Services

Taking into account all that was said above, we can conclude, that any online medical service provider needs an identity verification system to ensure the safety of the patients’ data and quick onboarding process.

If patient data will be securely stored online, and all the patients will need to pass proper KYC for receiving healthcare, fraudsters will not be able to steal anyone’s identity. With the help of document verification, online healthcare services can easily identify patients.

Moreover, healthcare services can authenticate the patient with the help of biometric facial recognition. So the fraudsters will not be able to steal personality in any case.

Advantages of IDV for Telemedicine and Healthcare Services

There are many other advantages of identity verification on the patients.

– Instant data access

There is no need to go to archives or ask to transfer anamnesis from another clinic. Moreover, when access to medical records is instant, it is better for the patient – the doctor can always check if the patient is allergic to something or not.

– Management of patient’ records

With all the information stored online, doctors can access and change records very fast. In addition, online healthcare institutions can share and transfer data among various service providers. It is also a good measure to reduce double testing and render more swift patient care.

– Opportunity to collect data and conduct research

For example, during world pandemic times, doctors and nurses should be able to quickly gain information on a patient’s condition. Moreover, it brings the chance to accumulate new data and conduct research for further development of telemedicine services.

– Protection of patients records

As was mentioned before, digital storage of medical records is giving criminals the chance. Thanks to proper identity verification, this chance can be reduced. Anti-malware software is not enough to make sure that the anamnesis is safe anymore. Nowadays online healthcare services need to encrypt patient records from the cybercriminal vultures.

– Better insurance management

Filing insurance claims can be an exhausting procedure for everyone involved. Automated Identity Verification, however, can offer online healthcare services efficient systems to quickly process hundreds and thousands of insurance claims without too much effort.

As a result, telehealth services would be able to review the benefits of each patient’s insurance claim more efficiently. But it equally offers patients a clear picture to access healthcare programs and added benefits. Besides, outdated systems often lead to double payments, which can be a nightmare for healthcare providers and patients.

Additional Benefits of a Robust Identity Verification System

Primarily, efficient online identity verification usually comes with three essential benefits:

– Less patients leaving the service

For several healthcare services, there’s almost always a possibility of fraud detection. However, when you significantly increase the total fraud checks, the assurance to identify a person becomes easy. However, the higher abandonment rate eventually serves as the extra friction.

– Lower rate of fraud

Identity verification can recognize if the ID documents provided are accurate. It can decrease fraud dramatically.

– Lower compliance risk

IDV can make sure that online medical service does comply with GDPR and HIPAA.

Digital Identity Verification: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Online identity verification of the patients might look as the best solution, however, there are still some pitfalls.

– Be careful when picking KYC provider

Many ID verification solutions claim that they have a global coverage but do not fall for it: the technology might be old and outdated. Make sure that KYC-provider AI algorithms check both front and back of ID documents, and etc.

– Combine automated solutions with human checks

Several trendy ID authentication systems say that they have an exclusive style of machine learning and automation. Well, it’s not essentially a foul approach, however it will inherently present limitations. The reality is that humans have a natural tendency to identify the patterns that will not be visible to machine learning and automation.

The issue comes all the way down to complete over-dependence on automation which will produce data gaps for online tending services. A combined effort of human and automatic check can give higher results.

– Don’t forget to test beforehand

If you are just implementing an identity verification system to your medical institution, make sure it suits you. Many KYC-providers allow free trial or demo, when medical institutions can realise, if it is the best solution or not.

– Don’t overlook mobile compatibility

Make sure the patients have easy access to identity verification, do not forget about mobile version or even implementing it to the app.

What About The Regulations?

There are certain risks to come when you provide medical services online. For example, in the US, the HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act is the compliant standard and all telemedicine services need to be sure they are following it.

Do not forget, that if you provide your services in the US, the regulations might differ from state to state. Make sure that you have picked a KYC provider that will help you comply with existing regulations.

And simpler access to health care suggests less sick patients. Sadly, the telemedicine patients are perpetually at the chance of fraud that might compromise their safety and impact well-being. Thus, it is sensible that top knowledge sharing and ability ought to become a brand new norm.

When numerous health care organizations supply well-meant suggestions, states follow completely different rules. At the same time, insurers devise separate methods. Consequently, telehealth remains at risk of uncertainty, fear, and even doubt. If patients will be sure that their data is secure the situation might change.

In conclusion

There are always some circumstances that can affect patient health and online healthcare services are better dealing with it.

COVID-19 made people realise that they might want to receive medical help online more often. Because it has become dangerous to come to the hospitals where all the contagious people are.

Digital identity verification solutions can help to make telemedicine and classic healthcare institutions more secure and better and make doctor appointments more time- and cost-efficient.

About the author

Dmitri Laush is CEO of omnichannel identity verification solution GetID.

DISCLAIMER: Biometric Update’s Industry Insights are submitted content. The views expressed in this post are that of the author, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Biometric Update.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  data protection  |  digital identity  |  facial recognition  |  fraud prevention  |  GetID  |  healthcare  |  identity verification  |  online authentication  |  patient identification  |  privacy  |  regulation  |  standards