[Re: https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/mhealth-innovate-59-strategies-protect-... ]
A few days ago we noted the Royal College of Nursing (UK) policy statement: 'Staff personal mobile phones should never be used to record, transmit or store a patient’s personal details, health information, or images of the patient.'
The Statement notes: 'The majority of NHS and other health and social care employers have policies relating to where and when mobile phones can be used at work.'
https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/publications/pub-005705
'The RCN advises that nursing staff should adhere to their employer’s policy on mobile phone use. If usage of their own mobile phones for work purposes is a regular occurrence this should be raised with their manager to explore other options, such as supplying an approved mobile phone.'
This raises a number of questions:
What percentage of employers of health professionals in different countries actually have a policy on mobile phone use? We would be very intgerested to know, especially from health professionals and facility managers: are you aware of a written policy in your workplace?
If you have a written policy, what are the key elements? What method was used to develop the policy? For example, was it based on external evidence and documentation, or adapted from national or international guidance, or developed 'from scratch' by managers? Were health professionals involved in the development of the policy?
Is the policy clear and easy to understand? Is compliance monitored in any way? Has the policy resulted in any changes? For example, has the policy been effective in protecting patient privacy and confidentiality?
To date, the RCN policy is the only example worldwide of which we are aware. It would be helpful to know of other policies.
The above will help inform the WHO policy dialogue that will take place on 6 June 2025. One of the questions this dialogue would address is this: Is there a need for international guidance on personal mobile phone use for work purposes? If so, which organisations should develop such guidance? (WHO and/or the International Telecommunications Union and/or global health professionals bodies such as ICN and WMA?)
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org