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23 June 2022: Australian consumers remain wary of online surveillance in their digital interactions with brands their demands for greater transparency, and control over use of their personal information, and what is being personalised to them online, is greater than ever.

The 2022 edition of the Deloitte Australian Privacy Index finds that providing transparency, assurance and control can go some way to alleviating consumers concerns.

Key results from Deloittes eighth annual assessment of consumer views on privacy, and the privacy practices of leading Australian consumer brands, include:

Deloitte National Privacy and Data Protection Lead Partner, Daniella Kafouris, said Consumers have gone about surviving the last two years defined by COVID, but theyve shared more personal data than ever before with governments and businesses in exchange for various freedoms and access to products and services.

Working, learning, buying and even entertaining from home and online has significantly shifted the dial in positive and perhaps not-so-positive ways from consumers benefiting from greater personalisation in their digital experiences, to genuine concerns about how their data is used.

What is clear is that a disconnect remains between consumer expectations and how brands collect and use personal data. As a result, there needs to be a better balance between consumers finding personalisation helpful and what could be considered over-reaching.

Many can see value in profiling and personalisation delivered by tracking and advertising technologies, but its also not for everyone. Generally, people under 35 see more value in tailored advertising and services compared to those over 35. As we looked through older age brackets, we found that increasingly more consumers perceive personalised experiences as crossing what we call a creepy line that hinders the customer experience and, by extension, a brands ability to build trust and engage with them.

Brands certainly need to take their customers on a transparency journey throughout the customer experience, rather than relying on legal documents like their privacy policy, to builds trust before things get creepy and, ultimately, counter-productive and even damaging.

The report outlines five key actions brands can take to improve their performance across data, transparency and personalisation:

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Australian Privacy Index 2022: wary of online surveillance, consumers demanding full transparency and control over their data - Deloitte

AHRQ publishes new handbook for primary care health IT advisers, practice facilitators to help improve quality through use of clinical EHR data.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of healthcare for all Americans. AHRQ develops the knowledge, tools, and data needed to improve the healthcare system and help consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers make informed health decisions.

On May 31, AHRQ published the guide, Obtaining and Using Data in Practice Improvement: A Handbook for Health IT Advisors and Practice Facilitators, with strategies for primary care practice coaches to support improved care through health information technology.

AHRQ announced the handbookfocuses on guiding coaches as they help primary care practices collect and extract high-quality clinical data from EHRs to support quality improvement, practice transformation and efforts to implement new, evidenced-based clinical interventions.

Daniel Miller, MS, social science researcher inAHRQs Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI), explained the purpose of the handbook in an email interview with Medical Economics.

Medical Economics: Why was this handbook published now? What is the purpose of this handbook? Why is it necessary?

Miller: While recent policy and payment changes have led to widespread adoption of EHRs, the potential of EHRs in quality improvement work hasnt yet been fully realized for a number of reasons.

From our work with practice facilitators in the field we have repeatedly heard that challenges with EHRs make it difficult for primary care practices to do things such as accurately and reliably enter EHR data, and extract data to generate quality measures and other metrics.Weve heard that many EHRs lack the functionality to produce reports that could help practices improve patient care.The large number of different EHR platforms and variations among them also present challenges.

So, the time was right for the development of this resource. The new handbook is intended to support the work of the people that are already in the field working with practices on quality improvement efforts such as practice facilitators (also called practice coaches), HIT advisers as well as practices own internal QI staff.The purpose of the handbook is to provide a practical approach to incorporating EHR data into efforts to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.

Over the last decadeAHRQhas developed extensive training resources for practice facilitators including a comprehensivepractice facilitation curriculumand most recently,practice facilitation training modules. Our new handbook is intended to be a companion resource to these practice facilitation training resources for those who are looking for a more technical treatment of how to use EHRs in QI work.

Medical Economics: How does this handbook apply to practices that are small in size, or in rural or underserved communities, where they may not have an outside Health IT Advisor?

Miller: We took practice size and location into account in the design of the handbook. Throughout the handbook there are examples and case studies that show how the general EHR strategies can be applied across different types of practices serving different populations.

The handbook assumes that users have a basic familiarity with using EHRs but it does not cover content that would be inaccessible to non-IT professionals.In general, the handbook describes functionalities that are built into EHRs as opposed to more advanced data management and analysis methods that would require programming or knowledge of the structure of the underlying EHR data.For example, the handbook describes how to generate reports and measures using built-in functions within EHR platforms instead of describing how to extract raw data and program reports.The handbook can serve as a valuable resource to any practice that is looking to improve its EHR capabilities.

Medical Economics: Physicians have complained, and studies have shown, that electronic health records can be a barrier between doctors and patients, especially in primary care. Should doctors take a new approach to EHR and think of it as a tool for quality improvement?

Miller: It is true that effective use of EHRs does take an upfront investment in training as well as potential changes in practice workflow.We have also found that many practices need additional help and resources implementing these changes and this is one of the key reasons why we developed this handbook.While there are significant start-up considerations with EHRs, there are also many potential benefits to practices.The handbook provides straightforward and practical strategies that practices can adopt to improve the quality of their EHR data and develop measures and reports that will allow them to have a better understanding of the treatment history and health of their patient population.

Medical Economics: Can you discuss some of the practical tips included in the handbook? What are some practical actions or steps physicians can do to improve their own experience with EHR and to use EHR to improve their patient outcomes?

Miller: The handbook emphasizes data clean-up and management.Getting accurate data into EHRs is one of the foundational tasks to successfully use EHRs.The handbook presents a framework for continuously monitoring the quality of EHR data with strategies for standardizing and improving the quality of data entry.This is an area that many practices have a strong interest in so they can make better use of their EHRs.

The handbook provides a tour of basic EHR functionality from an explanation of common fields within a typical EHR record to more advanced topics such as clinical decision support tools, dashboards and reports and empanelment.

Additionally, the handbook provides a detailed set of case studies that show how EHRs can support a wide range of QI initiatives.One of the goals of the handbook was to show not only how EHRs work, but also to provide specific approaches that practices can use to meet their QI goals.

Getting staff buy-in is often one of the biggest challenges to implementing EHR changes.The handbook covers strategies for working with practice staff to implement EHR improvements including developing a value proposition and identifying consensus goals within the practice, addressing resistance to changes, implementing improvement plans and reporting on progress to staff.

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Using EHR data for quality improvement focus of new AHRQ handbook - Medical Economics

When the US Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to end a pregnancy last week, one step many Americans took was to delete an app off their phone: their period trackers.

There are hundreds of apps on the market that help users monitor their menstrual cycles, whether they are trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy altogether.

The two most popular apps in the US,Flo and Clue, are estimated to be used by 55 million Americans each month.

But when the landmark ruling that has protected abortion access, Roe v Wade, was toppled late last week, activists immediately warned of a possible future of digital surveillance.

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From period tracker apps, to online search histories and text messages, pro-abortion groups say it could all be used as evidence in a hypothetical criminal case.

Trigger bans began snapping into place immediately after Roe v Wade was overturned, with some states banning abortion from six weeks, or even from the moment of conception.

The laws vary, and while most, so far, limit penalties to those who carry out or facilitate terminations, advocates fear that politically motivated prosecutors could attempt to have things interpreteddifferently.

Analysis from the Center for American Progress published the day before the Supreme Court decision identified nine states where abortion legislation does not protect people seeking abortions themselves from prosecution.

The fear is that any information online that indicates someone may be seeking out an abortion could be used against them.

It's a scenario that has already played out to some degree. Mississippi woman Latice Fisher was charged with second-degree murder in 2017 after prosecutors used her search history and online purchasing information as evidence that she had sought out an abortion.

Ms Fisher pleaded not guilty and said while she had researched her options early in her pregnancy, she experienced a stillbirth.

A grand jury declined to recommend she be prosecuted after an autopsy concluded there was "no identifiable evidence of external or internal traumatic injury" to the stillborn baby.

It was these types of cases that had abortion advocates urging people to delete their apps as soon as Roe was overturned.

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Period trackerand fertility apps typically invite users to share a wealth of personal health information and potentially sensitive data frequency and severity of symptoms throughout the cycle, sexual activity, use of birth control, and the start and end dates of periods and pregnancies.

Given the complexities of data security and privacy, there is a growing concern that this information could easily be passed on to authorities in states cracking down on abortions.

"The concern is about how data from these period-trackingapps might be used to show that someone might have had an abortion or was thinking about getting an abortion," Swinburne University law school's Georgina Dimopoulos, a privacy expert and law lecturer, said.

"[It's] about the data you input into these apps. Where is it going? Who's using it? And how might it be handled in a criminal case in states that might proceed to legally ban abortions?

"At the moment, there's no precedent for how that data might be used in a criminal case. There is scope for it to possibly be used in this context and so that's why there's concern amongst privacy experts that using these period-tracking apps are a form of surveillance."

App developers were quick to react to concerns about the safety of the information they gather from users.

Clue said it had been inundated with questions from its customers.

"We completely understand this anxiety, and we want to reassure you that any health data you track in Clue about pregnancy or abortion is private and safe," the company tweeted.

While its terms and conditions say it complies with legal subpoenas that are issued in "good faith", the company suggested it would not honour any demands for information about Americans who may have sought an abortion.

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It also pointed out that, as a company based in Germany, it is under European Union restrictions.

"EU privacy regulation is the strictest in the world. That means we are not allowed to disclose our users' private data, regardless of where they live. And, most importantly, we would never do it," the company said.

Another app, Flo, says it will soon launch an anonymous mode thatwould give users the option to remove information from their accounts.

It may be hard for the company to reassure some customers though.

Earlier this year, the US Federal Trades Commission filed a complaint against Flo for passing on intimate details about its users to Facebook and Google.

Flo denies that it passed on the data for advertising purposes.

Natural Cycles, the first fertility app cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration to market itself as a form of birth control, says it's scrambling to develop a "completely anonymous experience for our users".

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"Our users have different beliefs, stories, goalsand journeys," the company said.

Given one Supreme Court Justice has already set his sights on revisiting legislation around contraception, developers of birth-control apps will be watching closely.

One way these apps have suggested users can protect themselves and their data is by bolstering their digital security defences.

Clue recommended adding layers of security for access to the app and enabling data remote erasure in case of a lost or stolen phone.

However,the concerns are far more wide-reaching than menstrual-tracking apps.

"I think this Supreme Court decision which clearly is a fundamental violation of women's 'decisional' privacy in the US and the flow-on effects that it has for their informational privacy, in terms of period-tracking apps should really encourage us to think about how we understand privacy," Dr Dimopoulos said.

Amid the uncertainty over how future legislation might impact rights in this area, Americans are being urged to be more strategic about their online searches, and to use virtual private networks where possible.

"I think your instinct would be to go to Google and be like, 'Am I pregnant?' [if you've] missed a period," Flinders University's senior lecturer in US History, Prudence Flowers, said.

"We have all done our own searches like that. And Google will have that information and that kind of thing can be used against people."

And it's not just people seeking abortions whoare being urged to be more careful online.

Since Friday, social media has lit up with offers of help from people in states where abortion remains unrestricted, many openly declaring,"I will aid and abet abortion", while others use coded messages to reach out.

"I live in Illinois, a state where the right to go camping is actually a law," one Twitter user posted.

"I have a spare tent & can provide transportation to a campsite."

Privacy advocates warn that this kind of information could be used against people under so-called abortion "bounty hunter" laws.

First established in Texas, and subsequently pursued by Michigan and Idaho, these laws allowprivate citizens to sue anyone who helps another person access an abortion.

Anyone from the doctor who performs the procedure to the driver who takes the patient to the clinic can be sued.

In Texas, for instance, a plaintiff who brings the case is rewarded with $US10,000 and their legal fees are covered by the state.

"I think people have been making claims on social media about like ... they'll host people in their homes," DrFlowers says.

"People need to be much more circumspect in terms of what information they put out on social media about what they're willing to do for people who need abortion care."

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With Roe v Wade gone and abortion banned in some US states, Americans are deleting their period tracker apps - ABC News

Explore the July issue of The American Legion Magazine, with feature articles on the legacy of Old Ironsides, the Legions immigration policy, the origins of Roberts Rules of Order and more.The clickable digi-mag is available throughMyLegion.org.

In Americas Ship of State, John Raughter describes how USS Constitution became the worlds oldest warship afloat, surviving battles on the high seas and budget-minded bureaucrats. Plus, a Q&A with Cmdr. Billie Farrell, the first woman to command Old Ironsides and newest member of J.W. Conway Bunker Hill American Legion Post 26 in Charleston, Mass.

Passed by The American Legions National Executive Committee on May 5, Resolution 23 clarifies and updates the organizations policy on immigration, border control, detention and the route to naturalization and U.S. citizenship.

After presiding over a contentious public meeting in New Bedford, Mass., in 1863, Army officer and West Point graduate Henry Martyn Robert wrote his own manual on parliamentary procedure one still used today by government bodies, city and town councils, planning boards, school committees and more than 12,000 American Legion posts.

An American Legion report recommends VA and the Department of Education clear up definitions, rules and outdated references for GI Bill-using veterans and military-affiliated students enrolled in online programs. Online is the future, and the quality is there, says Joseph Wescott, a higher education consultant for the Legion and former president of the National Association of State Approving Agencies. Were not going back, due to the far-reaching advancements in technology.

In Hells Half Acre, Keith Nightingale tells the story of young paratroopers who led a misdropped resistance force in stalling German reinforcements at Normandy. No heavy weapons, no officers, no medics, no radios, he writes. This would be the ultimate light infantry battle, led by two men barely out of their teens.

This years 1,200-mile American Legion Legacy Run will depart Mobile, Ala., on Aug. 21 and travel through five states before arriving Aug. 25 at Post 434 in Oak Creek, Wis., in advance of the Legions 103rd National Convention in Milwaukee. Money raised benefits the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed on active duty on or after 9/11, as well as children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 50% or greater. Register for the Legacy Run or donate here.

An emphasis on programs, activities and spaces that appeal to children is fueling growth at Jack Henry Post 1 in Alaska, Fuquay-Varina Post 116 in North Carolina and elsewhere. As a new membership year begins, The American Legion is trending in the right direction, especially where we are welcoming young veterans and their families, National Commander Paul E. Dillard writes.

Members can clickhereto access the digital magazine.

To join The American Legion and enjoy monthly digital issues ofThe American Legion Magazine, visitlegion.org/join.

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Old Ironsides, immigration reform and more in July magazine - The American Legion

Bobby Jenkins| Opinion contributor

The coronavirus pandemic brought on many challenges to our communities, homes, and businesses. As we continue to face instabilities from ongoing crises both domestically and abroad, there is one thing our elected officials should find common ground on to boost our economic outlook for the foreseeable future: reforming the U.S. immigration system to match workers across all skill sets with available jobs.

Immigrants have long improved Texas industries, making up large shares of our workforce in a variety of sectors, from construction to food production and services to healthcare, and representing nearly a quarter of our overall workforce. They are major economic multipliers, holding an estimated total annual spending power of over $120 billion, and they contribute to state programs such as transportation, education, and social services through $40 billion in state and local taxes annually.

However, our nations antiquated and complex immigration system has rendered it almost impossible for immigrants to fully join the workforce in a meaningful capacity due to a lack of authorization, inaccessible work permits, or uncertainty of what will come next in terms of legal status. Even though about 1.6 million undocumented Texans contribute the same as any other citizen to the tune of $6.5 billion in state, local and federal taxes and are vital to our economic well-being, current policies prevent them from building a stable future.

As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently stated during a fireside chat around the states economy, The workforce propels businesses; the workforce propels Texas. However, cultivating a stable, balanced workforce with people of all skill levels is a tricky business, and key industries such as construction and home services, among others are struggling to hire employees. I have witnessed this firsthand. My company, ABC Home & Commercial Services, is facing difficulties hiring employees of all skill sets. Nationally, 51 percent of small businesses had openings that they could not fill at the end of last year.

While some businesses are starting to take matters into their own hands by leaving the status quo and implementing new operations, leaders at the state level are also working to address labor issues. The Texas Workforce Commission directed nearly $20 million in funds for programs dedicated to training workers to fill job openings, and several industries, such as the energy sector, have resorted to upping pay and benefits.

However, more can and must be done to get more workers on the job, and efforts at the federal level must provide innovative and forward-thinking solutions for all Texans. Texas representatives in both the House and Senate must pass immigration reform to recognize the true economic potential of Texas immigrant community and allow qualified, skilled workers to join our workforce.

If our leaders in Congress do not address this issue soon, we will have to face even greater labor challenges. Today, experienced workers are aging out of the industry, and there are not nearly enough applicants from the younger generations who want to work in laborious fields such as construction, agriculture, and building/grounds maintenance.

What we need are ready and able workers, and the public also agrees, with the majority of Americans supporting a pathway to citizenship.

It is my hope that the conversation around immigration reform continues to shift as more and more leaders and communities recognize the enormous benefits of immigration becoming more apparent than ever. Texas representatives in Congress must see the urgency of this situation and work with their colleagues to pass immigration reform measures such as the Dream Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act that will help our state to succeed.

As Texans and as the state with the ninth largest economy in the world by GDP, we must bring innovative and forward-thinking solutions to the table. Immigration reform is a good place to start.

Bobby Jenkins is the CEO of ABC Home & Commercial Services and chairman of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

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OPINION: When it comes to immigration, Texas can lead on innovative economic solutions - Caller Times