Nursing Informatics

Appropriate Social Media Conduct for Staff

Our organization has a clear policy on social media use, which applies to both work and personal accounts. All staff must be familiar with and adhere to this policy.

Best Practices for All Staff:

Do NOT share PHI: The golden rule is simple: Do not post, share, or discuss any PHI on social media. This includes text, photos, and videos.

Maintain Professional Boundaries: Avoid "friending" or following patients on social media. This blurs the professional-patient relationship and can create ethical and privacy issues.

Be Mindful of Your Environment: When taking photos or videos at work, be extremely cautious of the background. A computer screen, a patient's room number, or a piece of equipment with identifying information can lead to a violation.

Separate Personal and Professional Accounts: If you use social media professionally (e.g., for networking), keep it distinct from your personal accounts. Do not discuss work on your personal accounts.

Think Before You Post: Before you share anything online, ask yourself:

Could this post be linked back to a patient or my workplace?

Would I be comfortable with my manager, a patient, or a family member seeing this?

Does this post reflect positively on my professional role and the organization?

4. The Consequences of a HIPAA Violation

Violating HIPAA through social media can have severe consequences for both the employee and the organization.

For the Individual:

Disciplinary Action: This can include verbal warnings, suspension, and termination of employment.

Professional Ramifications: Loss of professional license or certification.

Legal & Criminal Penalties: Fines of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison for certain offenses.

For the Organization:

Heavy Fines: Fines can range from $100 to millions of dollars per violation.

Reputational Damage: Loss of patient and public trust, which can take years to rebuild.

Legal Action: Potential lawsuits from affected patients.

5. Interprofessional Collaboration & Shared Responsibility

Protecting patient privacy is a shared responsibility. It is not just the job of doctors and nurses—it involves everyone from administrators and billing staff to IT professionals and environmental services.

Open Communication: If you see something that could be a potential violation, it is your professional and ethical duty to report it to a supervisor or the compliance officer.

Team Huddles: Use team meetings to discuss and reinforce these guidelines. Sharing real-life examples can make the information more concrete and memorable.

Ask Questions: If you are ever in doubt about whether a post is appropriate, it is always better to err on the side of caution. "When in doubt, don't post." Consult with a colleague or your compliance officer before you share.

Sample Answer

Interprofessional Staff Update: HIPAA and Appropriate Social Media Use in Healthcare

Objective: To reinforce the importance of patient privacy and confidentiality in the digital age, specifically concerning the use of social media. This update will outline key HIPAA principles and provide clear guidelines for appropriate social media conduct for all staff members.

1. HIPAA Refresher: The Core Principles

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy and security of a person's health information. The core principle is that Protected Health Information (PHI) must be kept confidential.