Wearables Pose Tricky Privacy Issues For Employers Collecting Health And Location Data
Experts weigh in on questions surrounding mandatory use of wearables and the danger of discrimination, based on the data. In other health information technology news, a Wisconsin-based company gets a $1.6 million grant from NIH to fund hospital training software.
The Wall Street Journal:
How Should Companies Handle Data From Employees’ Wearable Devices?
Wearable electronics, like the Fitbits and Apple Watches sported by runners and early adopters, are fast becoming on-the-job gear. These devices offer employers new ways to measure productivity and safety, and allow insurers to track workers’ health indicators and habits. For employers, the prospect of tracking people’s whereabouts and productivity can be welcome. But collecting data on employees’ health—and putting that data to work—can trigger a host of privacy issues. (Haggin, 5/22)
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
My Coverage Plan, A Madison Technology Start-Up, Receives NIH Grant
My Coverage Plan Inc., a for-profit subsidiary of public interest law firm ABC for Health, has received a five-year grant of up to $1.6 million from the National Institutes of Health to develop software to help train staff at hospitals and other organizations in determining eligibility for public health programs. (Boulton, 5/20)
