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HIPAA provides guidelines to protect the privacy of a patient. Yet, the Youtube

ID: 127369 • Letter: H

Question

HIPAA provides guidelines to protect the privacy of a patient. Yet, the Youtube video "Social Media Guidelines for Nurses" says that Social Media can be used appropriately and to coordinate patient care. Please give an example of an inappropriate or appropriate use of social media in regards to a patient by a medical professional. Perhaps you know of a real case that you would like to share. If so, please be careful not to use the name of the patient in the example. If you discuss a real case, what were the consequences of the action? Do you think the consequences were justified HIPAA provides guidelines to protect the privacy of a patient. Yet, the Youtube video "Social Media Guidelines for Nurses" says that Social Media can be used appropriately and to coordinate patient care. Please give an example of an inappropriate or appropriate use of social media in regards to a patient by a medical professional. Perhaps you know of a real case that you would like to share. If so, please be careful not to use the name of the patient in the example. If you discuss a real case, what were the consequences of the action? Do you think the consequences were justified

Explanation / Answer

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996, which established several privacy rules and regulations for healthcare professionals about the patient confidentially. The discussions done in an examination room must not be disclosed to the other staff members or family members (outside the office). Also, the healthcare professionals must not access the patient's information without any valid reason or authorization.

Nurses can use social media to form groups of patients with various health conditions, to share the ways of improving health in several ways, posting related videos and discussions.

However, nurses must not discuss the privacy issues of the patient or should not post the photos (though the patient cannot be identified) and videos. Nurses must not comment on patient's health or complain about the patient's behavior or views. In one case, a nursing student was expelled out from the nursing school for posting a cancer patient's photo on the facebook.