Psychotherapy, GDPR, and Online Security-PsyCare

20 Feb

The importance of telemedicine and its impact on society and health are internationally recognized. online psychotherapy falls within the scope of telemedicine and, as such, must be managed in the appropriate contexts and with the relevant regulatory references. In compliance with the GDPR, to guarantee the safety for the data.

The ever-evolving technologies and new tools that support telemedicine are available to an ever-increasing number of users. They have undoubtedly improved the relationship between healthcare professionals and patients. The availability of increasingly efficient services, also in terms of responding to the growing needs of users, represents a concrete opportunity for the evolution of therapy. However, even in telemedicine, as much as the protection of the privacy and of the personal data as the ethical principle relating to professional secrecy, may be compromised.

Online psychotherapy: what are the rules?

The National guidelines for telemedicine are those shared by the Ministry of Health.

The Telemedicine is not a separate medical specialty, but rather a tool that can be used to extend traditional practice beyond the usual physical space. Within the general regulatory framework, it represents a different way of providing healthcare and social services and therefore falls within the framework that governs such processes, with some clarifications regarding the conditions for implementation.

There are many experiences with telemedicine at the national, regional, and local levels.
But the regulatory references are shared.

In order to integrate telemedicine services, new technologies must refer to essential constituent elements; in the case of psychologists and psychotherapists who practiceonline psychotherapy, these must:

be authorized to practice the profession of psychologist and be registered in the Professional Register (Single National Register CNOP);
To have completed the registration in the list of psychotherapists, pursuant to art. 3 of Law 56/89, it is necessary to have obtained a specialization diploma from a university or private school recognized by the MIUR;
provide clear and understandable information for remote psychological services, which includes theinformed consent to healthcare services and data processing (GDPR: Clarifications on the application of the regulations for the processing of health data in the healthcare sector), which must be accepted and signed to access the service (as is the case for traditional therapies);
use secure platforms (the platforms themselves inform and guarantee about their data encryption systems and compliance with the GDPR also with regards to protection of health data);
with reference also to the patient’s country of residence, have a clear and complete knowledge of the regulations and have adequate software available to comply with the required legal requirements.
It is naturally advisable for professionals to keep up to date with appropriate training in the field of “telepsychology” and to stay abreast of industry and healthcare regulations.

Psychotherapy, health data, and GDPR

In short, everything related to the medical sphere, whether we are talking about telemedicine or e-health, rather than online therapy or e-therapy, the starting line is well drawn. GDPR speak clearly: All healthcare workers must adapt their behavioral and organizational standards, in compliance with the legislation that protects all data relating to the physical or mental health status. CInformed consent and privacy for remote psychological services they are the key words. Ensure compliance with the regulations It means, in simple terms, that thea protection of personal data must be guaranteed at every stage of information processing, That is, in every collection, archiving, consultation, modification, and sharing operation; without forgetting the extremely delicate and important phases of deletion or destruction of data shared between patient and therapist.

Online therapy software: innovative and supportive

The phenomenon of psychological performance through remote communication technologies, even in Italy, is manifesting itself with the characteristics of novelty and rapid transmission typical of the IT context. It seems to have had an interesting impact on users, who are increasingly using it to receive information about their psychological state..

By browsing online and entering the words “software for online therapy“, numerous websites offering this service appear, highlighting the numerous advantages these types of services offer. Accessing this type of service is very easy: all you need is an internet connection and a remote communication device equipped with a webcam, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet, to connect.

It’s clear that every professional, in order to keep up with the times, must strive to utilize these new forms of communication and put them to use for their patients’ therapeutic needs. This requires appropriate assessment, of course..

Good psychotherapy is also online, you just need to not underestimate the risks associated with it. privacy and data security.
Professionalism is also this.