Building Healthcare Apps: HIPAA, GDPR, and Data Privacy

PHI Defined

Protected Health Information (PHI) includes anything that links health status to an individual. Even a name + doctor appointment date is PHI.

HIPAA (US) focuses specifically on health data portability and privacy. GDPR (EU) is broader but has specific strictures for 'sensitive' health data.

Encryption at rest and transit is mandatory. Access controls must be unique per user. Automatic logoff is required.

You need training policies, risk management processes, and incident response plans. It's not just code; it's process.

Servers must be secure (AWS/GCP offer HIPAA compliant zones). Device policies for employees accessing data are required.

If you use 3rd party vendors (cloud, analytics) for PHI, you must sign a BAA with them ensuring they also comply.

Record every access to PHI. "Who viewed what, when?" This is crucial for forensic analysis during breaches and for compliance audits.