Privacy, Health Information And Your Church's Website And eMail Prayer List

Recently, Heal Your Church Website talked about an issue[1] that any church with a web presence needs to note: online privacy as it relates to your website. In particular, is your church website (or prayer email list, or any other online effort) operating safely within privacy regulations pertaining to health information?

It may seem like a minor issue, but it's worth keeping in mind, especially if you have a prayer-request forum or mailing list. And while HYCW refers specifically to HIPAA[2] regulations, this is also a good reminder to consider general privacy concerns in all of your church's online endeavor.

Whether it's posting a church member's name or email address on a public site or sharing private health concerns over a prayer message board, it's best to play it safe whenever personal information is involved. (And if you've not given thought to a privacy policy[3] for your site, now's a good time to consider that as well.)

Links in this story
[1] http://www.healyourchurchwebsite.com/archives/001455.php
[2] http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
[3] http://www.webwritingthatworks.com/CPATTERNprivacy.htm