#de-identification

A practical guide to data anonymization

When researching data de-identification, you’ll come across terms such as anonymization, pseudonymization, and generalization. How do we de-identify data? “Data anonymization is a type of information sanitization whose intent is privacy protection. It is the process of removing personally identifiable information from data sets, so that the people whom the data describe remain anonymous.” –…

Dicom Systems recommend a de-identification toolset that provide valuable imaging studies for different areas such as research, policy assessment. For detail information go to 1999 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 700 Campbell, CA 95008 or call at 415-684-8790.

[publication] De-Identification in Learning Analytics #LA #research

Our publication about “De-Identification in Learning Analytics” got published in the Journal of Learning Analytics. Abstract:

Learning Analytics has reserved its position as an important field in the educational sector. However, the large-scale collection, processing and analyzing of data have steered the wheel beyond the border lines and faced an abundance of ethical breaches and constraints.…

De-Identification: A Critical Debate

Two new words for this tech pros vocabulary this week:  De-identfication and re-identification.

Here’s how i get my hands around it.  The label reads “squeezed from fresh oranges.  Not from concentrate”.  OK.  Here goes.

Your data – and, potentially, location – is stripped from source and probably path information BEFORE it is stored.  Then, after storage (not caching), the data is provided…

Excellent question, Teamillz! I couldn't find an ASK link on your Tumblr to reply to you privately, so I figured I'd post your question and reply to it.

I'm sure you've all heard stories about doctors getting in trouble for taking pictures of patient's bizarre tattoos or gruesome injuries and getting in trouble for it. And well they should -- if they aren't following the HIPAA regulations to protect a patient's privacy.

Social media gives a new wrinkle to the age-old question: What's the difference between walking into a crowded ER with a gruesome wound and being seen by random strangers in the waiting room, versus your doctor taking a picture of your gruesome wound (with your permission) and then showing it to all of his buddies (online vs off-line)? What if the ER doc doesn't take a picture, but tells everyone in a crowded bar about it later? Or posts the anecdote on Facebook or Tumblr? Again, the HIPAA guidelines provide valuable, well, guidance in how to de-identify that picture/story.

My "Tumblr-colleague" White Coat has graciously re-posted a handy-dandy list of the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) guidelines for de-identifying medical images/video/stories/etc... (Oops, that link is now dead. Here's an article that summarizes how to blog about patients without violating HIPAA) These are very useful guidelines which I apply to every patient-related thing I post here on this blog.

As for the particular picture that you made this comment about, teamillz: there's no way you're gonna identify the patient from that picture (especially because I take the extra step of not even identifying MYSELF on this blog), and I did ask the little old lady for permission to take the picture. Her reply: "Oh sure, go right ahead, honey -- I bet you'll get some strange looks from your friends when you show 'em!" :)

It would be a very different situation if: (1) I posted this picture under my real name, (2) I told you what clinic I worked at, (3) I identified the date when the picture was taken, and (4) I included the patient's face or other identifying info in the picture.