Biotech
Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 2:12 pm EDT
Key Points
- Doximity’s DocDefender Service: Doximity, a prominent medical website widely used by over 80% of U.S. doctors, has introduced a free service known as DocDefender. This service is designed to protect the personal contact information of physicians from being publicly available on the internet. DocDefender utilizes technology to scan numerous websites where a doctor’s information may be found and initiates the removal process automatically.
- Context of Increased Harassment: The launch of DocDefender comes in response to a surge in harassment and violence targeting healthcare workers, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has led to heightened tensions and hostility among some patients due to the politicization of public health measures, such as mask mandates, social distancing, and vaccine requirements. Healthcare professionals have increasingly found themselves the targets of online harassment, necessitating the need for greater privacy protection.
- Importance of Online Privacy for Healthcare Professionals: According to a survey conducted by Doximity, 85% of doctors express concerns about patients accessing their personal information online. The level of concern is even higher in high-stress medical specialties, such as physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. Healthcare workers often have personal information, including their phone numbers, addresses, and relatives, accessible on various websites. The availability of such information poses security risks and causes significant unease among medical professionals. DocDefender is aimed at addressing these concerns by offering a solution that allows healthcare workers to focus on patient care without worrying about their online safety.
Doximity, a medical website used by over 80% of U.S. doctors, has launched a free service called DocDefender to help protect physicians’ personal information from online harassment. This initiative comes in response to increased levels of harassment and violence experienced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been exacerbated by the politicization of public health measures.
Doximity’s platform, often described as “LinkedIn for doctors,” offers healthcare professionals a range of tools to stay updated on medical news, manage administrative tasks, make referrals, and conduct telehealth appointments with patients. The new DocDefender service scans popular websites for doctors’ information and automatically initiates the removal process, enhancing online privacy and security for healthcare workers.
A survey conducted by Doximity revealed that 85% of doctors worry about patients accessing their personal information online, with even higher concern in high-stress specialties such as physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. Many patients have exhibited increased aggression since the pandemic began.
DocDefender users can track the removal process through Doximity’s platform, and regular follow-up reports will keep them informed about their online presence. The service will initially be available to doctors and will later expand to nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
Doximity, which boasts a user base of more than 80% of U.S. doctors, as well as 50% of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, primarily generates revenue through hiring, marketing, and telehealth services. DocDefender will be offered for free, thanks to the company’s strong profit margins, allowing it to invest in features that doctors genuinely desire.
The service aims to enhance the safety and privacy of healthcare professionals who have been the target of harassment and threats, making it easier for them to focus on their work and patient care without worrying about their online information being used against them. While DocDefender offers a significant improvement in online privacy, there are still some databases and websites that list doctor information, posing an ongoing challenge to their online security.
Overall, DocDefender serves as a crucial step in safeguarding physicians’ privacy, reducing the risk of online harassment, and helping medical professionals separate their personal and professional lives. It provides them with peace of mind and enables them to concentrate on their healthcare responsibilities rather than their safety.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/01/doximity-announces-docdefender-to-remove-doctor-information-online.html
