Here are six ways to protect your online presence.
1. Buy your domain names, so disgruntled patients or rival practices can’t use them to hurt your image. The domain names worth buying include your practice, personal name and closely-linked names.
2. Beef up your cyber security. Although a website can’t really be impenetrable, there are many steps to ward off hackers. Keep your systems updated and work with your website host’s organization to assure all possible security measures are in place.
3. Make sure you’re not breaking the law. All websites must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means your website’s text must be convertible to audio with closed-captions.
4. Assure that you are the legal owner of all images on your website.
5. Leave a note about calling 911 for medical emergencies on your “Contact Us” page. This way, if patients send messages to physicians through the website after hours, they will be alerted to seek immediate attention if necessary.
6. You must alert patients if your website is not encrypted, so patients understand the communication tools are not necessarily secure for personal information.
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