AI Misconceptions: Patient data from wearables is always protected

Michael Blackman, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer of Greenway Health, spoke with Medical Economics at the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025 in Orlando about privacy and ownership of patient-generated data from wearables and remote monitoring tools.

He said that while such technologies can enhance care, they also raise serious questions about data security and consent.

“There’s lots of data out there,” Blackman said. “People need to understand what’s happening to their data and be aware when it’s going to be used in different ways.”

He cautioned that patients should be careful about connecting to new apps or devices and should recognize that, for now, managing privacy may be a matter of “buyer beware.”