Health and Big Data: An Ethical Framework for Health Information Collection by Corporate Wellness Programs

Abstract

This essay details the resurgence of wellness program as employed by large corporations with the aim of reducing healthcare costs. The essay narrows in on a discussion of how Big Data collection practices are being utilized in wellness programs and the potential negative impact on the worker in regards to privacy and employment discrimination. The essay offers an ethical framework to be adopted by wellness program vendors in order to conduct wellness programs that would achieve cost-saving goals without undue burdens on the worker. The essay also offers some innovative approaches to wellness that may well better serve the goals of healthcare cost reduction.

Users’ Responses to Privacy Issues with the Connected Information Ecologies Created by Fitness Trackers

“…While most of the privacy studies evaluate technical aspects of privacy and security of the fitness devices and the applications [15,18,19], this study provides a qualitative perspective of users' everyday privacy practices while using devices and related synergies created around them. This paper adds to the privacy literature by providing accounts of how consumers respond to privacy issues raised in popular everyday technologies; in this case fitness trackers, and loyalty card systems which have created complex information ecologies that collect and open up personal information to third party organisations [20]. Information ecologies in this context refers to the interconnected nature of socially produced data as a result of human activities popularly known as "social big data".…”

Just data? Solidarity and justice in data-driven medicine

“…The fine line between incentivizing and disciplining becomes apparent in the case of corporate wellness programs and their increasing reliance on continuous tracking and big data analytics (Ajunwa et al 2016 ). These programs are framed as benevolent towards the participating employee.…”

“…On the other hand, for those who participate, tacit imperatives might be introduced and violations might receive sanctions, e.g., through employment discrimination. Especially in health systems where employers carry parts of the healthcare costs of employees, “there is the temptation for the thrifty employer to deputize wellness programs as surveillance systems that would root out ‘costly’ employees” (Ajunwa et al 2016 , 478). The interests of the employer and service provider might in fact take precedence over the interests of the employee.…”

What Are Best Practices for Ethical Use of Nanosensors for Worker Surveillance?

“…14 As nano-enabled mHealth devices increase the potential power and intrusiveness of worker monitoring programs, it is critical that employers implement such programs in cooperation with workers as that is the only way to realize in practice the significant benefits to employers and employees that are possible from such efforts. The following best practices, derived from an extensive literature on bioethics, employee management, technology acceptance, risk management, and practical experience with worker surveillance programs, 2,14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] can best ensure that nano-enabled mHealth applications can be a win-win for both workers and their employers.…”

“…[and] employers may have a better chance at realizing the healthcare cost reductions that is their primary objective without undue disadvantages to the employee. 22…”