social media policy

Introduction

According to ​Internet and Social Media on lawsoup.org, employer has no right to restrict

employee’s use of social media on their own time. The ​exceptions are when employee post contents that

negatively implicates the employer or complain about the employer. Also, according to

hippajournal.com “​The HIPAA Privacy Rule prohibits the use of PHI on social media networks. That

includes any text about specific patients as well as images or videos that could result in a patient being

identified. PHI can only be included in social media posts if a patient has given their consent, in writing,

to allow their PHI to be used and then only for the purpose specifically mentioned in the consent form.

Social media channels can be used for posting health tips, details of events, new medical research, bios

of staff, and for marketing messages, provided no PHI is included in the posts.”

I think our facility should draft a social media policy to act as a guideline to protect privacy of

patients and to prevent future lawsuit regarding social media uses by employees. All departments should

and will be included on the social media policy committee specially the department with access to the

PHI and clinical staffs. Especially with contractors, vendors those not consider employees of the facility,

we will include the policy in the contract so they can understand and follow the policy as a social media

use guideline.

In order to carry forward and ensure the policy is well known and understood by all of our

employees, we should also establish an agreement for both new and existing employees. New employees

will have to agree on the policy before they start working. We will have orientation regarding the policy

for existing employees, they will sign the agreement within a designed period of time or else they will

be suspended from work until they do so.

We respect employee’s personal use of social media, also encourage employees to use social

media as a platform to get together to address work-related issues and share information about pay,

benefits, and working conditions. We welcome any staff who wish to express their opinions or views

about health care issues on social media. However, employees will have to follow the policy as a

guideline while posting on all social media to ensure not violate any of the rules. Any violation to the

policy may result in suspension of work, let go by the facility or even lawsuit. The facility will have

authority for interpretation of the policy. Remember you are the faces of the facility, any comment from

you may be seen as the facility’s opinions please be caution while use social media.