EmployeeScreenIQ

Should your health information be considered public record and therefore available to any potential employer conducting a background check on you?

There has been some concern lately as to whether or not personal health records available online are as secure as they should be. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, information contained in these records aren't always private, despite claims from host sites.

Several people have begun using a personal health record, or a tool for collecting, tracking and sharing your health information. Most PHRs are Internet-based and allow the patient to create, review and maintain the record.

While PHRs are great resources for both patients and health care providers, unsecured versions may do more harm than good. If an employer stumbles upon these records while conducting a background check, it could deter their decision to hire you. However, making hiring decisions based on certain medical conditions is a serious faux pas.

PHRs can include information pertaining to medications, illnesses and hospitalizations, surgeries and other procedures, vaccinations, laboratory test results, family medical history and allergies. Some PHRs also provide the ability to check drug interaction and network with other patients and medical providers.

Some PHRs are offered by hosting sites, which may cost money, while others are offered by health care providers or hospitals. Other online companies, like Google and Microsoft, offer them at no charge. Some popular PHRs are Microsoft's HealthVault, Google Health, Revolution health and WebMD.

Some PHRs are covered under the HIPAA privacy rule, meaning they can't be available for public consumption. But others are sponsored by third parties and not necessarily protected for privacy. Because of this, it's important to familiarize yourself with the host site's privacy policies.

Labels: Public records