How to Get Healthcare Video and Patient Privacy Right
Filming in clinics, hospitals and care settings without exposing patient information.
Tomas Lindqvist
The key figures
- Authorization
- identifiable patient footage requires written authorization
- Backgrounds
- screens, whiteboards and records can reveal patient data
- Staff
- employees also need consent for marketing use
- Scope
- authorization covers specific uses, not all future ones
Why this is worth getting right
Health settings contain protected information on screens, charts and people, and authorization is required for identifiable patients.
Do this, not that
Do
- Obtain written authorization before filming patients
- Clear backgrounds of screens and records
- Use staff or actors for illustrative scenes
- Restrict access to raw footage
- Keep authorization records with the project
Don’t
- Filming in clinical areas without clearance
- Visible monitors and charts
- Reusing footage beyond authorized purposes
- Raw footage shared on consumer services
When to bring in help
Our advice Bring in help before filming in care settings.
Where this comes from
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — HIPAA for professionals
- Federal Trade Commission — Health Products Compliance Guidance
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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Where to go next
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