Keeping privacy at the forefront in the field of sport psychology

Keeping privacy at the forefront in the field of sports psychology allows athletes to know their personal and mental health information is kept confidential, and they feel safe sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Understanding the field of sport psychology 

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, aiming to understand the intricate processes that govern how individuals think, feel and act. An excerpt from the Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science Sport Psychology provides that, “Sport psychologists work with individual athletes to help them identify appropriate sources and achieve desired levels of motivation for practice and competition.” Psychologists employ a range of methodologies, such as controlled experiments, longitudinal studies, clinical trials, observations, and interviews, to gather data and gain insights into human behavior.

The benefits of sports psychology extend to all levels of athletic participation. Professional athletes gain a competitive edge and maintain peak performance, while collegiate and high school athletes sharpen their skills and balance academic and athletic demands. Recreational players find more enjoyment and motivation in their activities. Coaches, armed with effective strategies, can better motivate and support their athletes. Sports organizations, in turn, develop stronger, more cohesive teams. 

The legislation that applies

Central to the protection of patient privacy in this field is HIPAA, a federal law that applies to healthcare providers, including sports psychologists working with professional athletes, collegiate athletes, and other patients. HIPAA's Privacy Rule (45 CFR § 164.502) requires that health information, including psychological records, must be kept confidential and shared only with authorized individuals, such as medical staff or legal guardians. This regulation makes sure that athletes' privacy and builds trust in their psychological care.

For high school athletes, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) applies especially when sports psychologists are employed by or collaborate with schools. FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) protects the privacy of students' educational records, which can include mental health information provided by school psychologists. This law gives parents and eligible students control over who can access their educational and psychological information, ensuring that sensitive data is not disclosed without proper consent.

Beyond federal regulations, state laws provide a kind of gap cover in privacy protection, often with stricter guidelines for the confidentiality of mental health records. For instance, California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56 56.37) requires that medical information, including mental health records.

How to uphold privacy within sports psychology

1. Always use HIPAA compliant email services when communicating with athletes or other professionals about psychological information. 
2. Always obtain written consent from athletes before sharing their psychological information with other parties. 
3. Avoid using personal devices for professional communications and record keeping. Have dedicated, secure devices for work related activities, and ensure they have updated antivirus and security software.
4. When discussing cases with peers for supervision or research purposes, anonymize patient data to prevent identification. Remove or alter any details that could reveal the patient’s identity.
5. Use privacy screens on computer monitors to prevent unauthorized individuals from viewing sensitive information when working in shared or open spaces.
6. When disposing of physical records, use shredders or professional document destruction services to ensure that information is destroyed securely. 
7. Regularly conduct mock breach drills to ensure that all staff know how to respond in the event of a data breach. 

See also: Top 12 HIPAA compliant email services

FAQs

What information is protected under HIPAA?

HIPAA protects all individually identifiable health information, including medical records, billing information, and any data related to a patient's physical or mental health.

How does HIPAA define deidentification?

HIPAA defines deidentification as the process of removing or coding personal information so that the individual cannot be readily identified from the data.

Does HIPAA differentiate between mental health providers and other forms of healthcare providers?

HIPAA does not differentiate between mental health providers and other forms of healthcare providers.