Unlocking the Future: Navigating Compliance and Innovation in Dermatology with AI, Payments, and Patient Photography

Emerging technologies like embedded payments, patient photography, and artificial intelligence (AI) are shaking up the healthcare world — especially in dermatology. These tools can boost efficiency and improve patient care, but they also come with some big questions around compliance and privacy. So, how do you make sure you’re using these innovations to your advantage without stepping into a regulatory minefield? Let’s break it down. 

Embedded Payments: Fast, Easy, But What’s the Catch? 

Who doesn’t love making things easier for patients, right? With embedded payments, you can simplify the billing process by letting patients pay right through your EHR system. No extra steps, no awkward calls about overdue bills. It’s a win-win for everyone. 

But here’s the thing — handling payments within your EHR brings serious data privacy responsibilities. These systems deal with both financial and medical data, so they need to comply with HIPAA and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). One slip-up could mean a data breach, which can lead to fines and damage your practice’s reputation. Also, some trendy new payment options, like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), are gaining traction, but they come with their own regulatory headaches. So, before jumping on board, make sure your vendor’s payment system is both HIPAA- and PCI DSS-compliant, and ask about their security protocols. 

Patient Photography: Picture Perfect, But Watch the Fine Print 

Taking patient photos is a crucial part of dermatology, especially for tracking skin conditions or documenting treatment results. But as helpful as patient photography is, it also brings up some serious privacy concerns. Every photo you snap is protected under HIPAA, which means you can’t just throw those pics into any old cloud storage. They need to be encrypted and handled in a HIPAA-compliant way. 

And if you’re using AI to analyze these images, be extra careful. Make sure that any image analysis or cloud storage systems are secure, HIPAA-compliant, and won’t risk exposing sensitive patient data. Plus, don’t forget to get clear, written consent from patients before using their photos for anything other than their immediate care. 

AI: Game-Changer or Risky Business? 

AI is the shiny new toy in healthcare right now, and for good reason. In dermatology, it can speed up diagnoses, analyze skin conditions, and help manage your workflow more efficiently. Sounds awesome, right? But as cool as AI is, it comes with some hidden risks — especially around bias and accuracy. 

The truth is, AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on. If your AI tool was mostly trained on lighter skin tones, it could miss the mark when diagnosing conditions on darker skin. This is a huge problem, not only for patient care but also for compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Make sure the AI you’re using has been trained on diverse datasets and that the developers are transparent about how they’re tackling bias. 

And let’s talk about AI hallucinations — no, not that kind of hallucination. In the AI world, it’s when a poorly trained system spits out wrong or misleading information. A misdiagnosis in dermatology could lead to improper treatment, which is a disaster waiting to happen. Make sure to ask how often these errors happen, how they’re flagged, and what’s done to fix them in real time. 

Wrapping It Up 

Sure, embedded payments, patient photography, and AI sound like the future of dermatology — and they really can be. But before you dive in headfirst, make sure you’ve asked all the right questions. Check for HIPAA compliance, be cautious about how you handle patient photos, and ensure your AI isn’t biased or prone to hallucinations. When you’ve got these safeguards in place, you can harness the power of tech to enhance your practice while keeping patient care and compliance in check. Now that’s a winning combo! 

About the author 

Robin Ntoh is VP of Aesthetics at Nextech. A recognized expert in the business of elective healthcare and aesthetics, Robin has seen success in the launch of both her own consulting company and the addition of consulting services for Nextech — serving more than 400 clients. Her 35+ years include small- to mid-business management as well as executive leadership for one of the leading aesthetic HCPs, Nextech.