Doximity Launches DocDefender, Expanding Services to Safeguard Physician Privacy

November 01, 2023 at 09:05 AM EDT

New Doximity poll finds 85% of U.S. physicians are concerned about a patient finding their personal information online

Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS), the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals, today announced DocDefender, a free service for physicians that tracks down and eliminates their personal contact information from public websites. In an environment of escalating violence and harassment against health care professionals, Doximity developed DocDefender to help doctors protect themselves and their families by taking control of their private information online.

OSHA research shows that up to 50% of healthcare workers experience some form of violence in their careers, and in today’s digital age, threats against health care workers are not limited to the workplace. Physicians can be prime targets for harassment and identity theft, problems exacerbated by easy online access to personal details.

In fact, a recent Doximity poll of over 2,000 physicians found that 85% are concerned about a patient finding their personal information online, and 35% said this has already happened to them. Among the most concerned are psychiatrists, ER doctors, women physicians, and physicians involved in pain management – doctors who often prescribe, and deny, opioids.

DocDefender scans the highest visibility people search sites and data brokers for a physician’s private information. It then submits removal requests to those sites on the user’s behalf and monitors the removal process through completion. Scans are re-run periodically and follow up privacy reports are emailed to the physician throughout the year. Physicians can monitor the progress of removals directly through the DocDefender interface.

“We believe physicians – and their families – deserve privacy and protection,” said Jeff Tangney, co-founder and CEO of Doximity. “We hope this service allows them to feel more secure and spend more time focused on patient care.”

DocDefender is not Doximity’s first foray into developing tools that protect physician privacy. Doximity Dialer has become a mainstay communication tool for hundreds of thousands of U.S. physicians and allied health professionals, enabling them to communicate flexibly with patients from their personal devices, while protecting their private contact information.

About Doximity

Founded in 2010, Doximity is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The Company's network members include over 80% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay up to date with the latest medical news and research, manage their careers and on-call schedules, and conduct virtual patient visits. Doximity's mission is to help doctors be more productive so they can provide better care for their patients. For more information, visit www.doximity.com.