The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announced it is working with HHS' Office for Civil Rights on a project to raise awareness among clinicians about securing health information on mobile devices, including laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The privacy and security mobile device project builds on the existing security-rule provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act from 2006 and will identify privacy and security good practices, according to an e-mailed message from the ONC. The ONC plans to hold a public roundtable about the project this spring.

The good practices will be used in communications with providers, healthcare professionals and other organizations. More information about the federal mHealth Initiative is available on HHS' website.

Last fall, the ONC announced plans to survey consumers about their opinions on using mobile devices to communicate personal health information. Results of the survey would help inform a consumer educational campaign about the need for private and secure health information exchange.