Internet and social media seem to have seeped into most corners of our lives. Everything we say or do can become public knowledge whether or not we try to do it in the public eye. Tweeting, posting, pinning, these are the new verbs which have become a part of our daily lives. With such new modes of interactions and forums for conversations controlling our lives, privacy has become a major concern for everyone, including patients.

Patient privacy was a problem issue till the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) came into effect. Today, privacy violations are taken very seriously under the act. But with new gateways of conversation emerging each day, the doctors and nurses must be extremely careful with what they say or do, for they might be violating the HIPAA, with or without any intent. Listed below are 6 easy ways to avoid HIPAA violations in social media.

– Never talk about your patients. Avoid talking about your patients at all. While taking names is strictly forbidden, don’t try and waste your time disguising the situation with anonymity. It is not always impossible for people to figure out what you are saying or about whom you are talking. The moment you do that, you are taking a big risk with their privacy.

– Never talk about the cases you see. Avoid any conversations about the conditions and treatments of your patients. Generalize the discussions and base them on general conditions, treatments and other medical information rather than basing it on one person or one situation.

– Never be anonymous. Anonymity is not respected anywhere, real or virtual world. By trying to protect your identity, you are hiding behind a face from where you think it is okay to say or do anything. And it is just not professional.

– What is not meant to be heard should not be written. Think aloud what you plan to write. And if it in any way hurts the privacy of your patient, you better steer clear of it. Most doctors and nurses follow the thumb rule, “if you cannot say it in the elevator, do not post it online”.

– Keep a lid on your mood for it can become your tone. Be very careful of this blunder. If you are frustrated about something at work, do not put it online. Online forums should not become your wall for venting your professional frustrations and anger. If you are planning to write something you think is funny about medicine or patients check that you are not hurting any feelings.

– Keep professional and personal lives separate. Never befriend patients on your personal social media accounts and do not involve family in your professional web pages.

With these minor corrections to your social life, you should be able to stay away from any HIPAA violation. HIPAA violations are serious and can fetch penalties. And more than the penalties, you do not want privacy laws to put a blotch on your career and profession. Be careful on online forums and protect yourself and your patients.

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Category: Advice
Keywords: HIPAA,Health Insurance ,violations of hipaa,medical data,HIPAA security rule