Risks for healthcare professionals using social media
Introduction
This session will explore the risks of using social media as a healthcare professional. We will discuss the potential pitfalls of social media usage and how to avoid them. We will explore some case studies of how to not use social media and the consequences of doing so.
Video content
Hi, welcome to the second teaching session of this programme, here I will discuss the potential pitfalls of using social media as a healthcare professional and share a few fictitious scenarios with you
The first major risk is a potential breach of confidentiality. If you are using social media as a healthcare professional, you need to be very careful about what you post. Particularly as most confidentiality breaches are accidental. You must be aware of what is considered confidential and the potential jigsaw method of disclosure. This refers to the idea that a piece of information that does not in itself breach confidentiality can be put together with other available information which can lead to a breach.
The next potential risk is the spreading misinformation. If you are using social media to spread awareness of your field and the kind of work, you do you need to be careful to not spread misinformation. This also applies if you are posting about your work on personal social media accounts. Be aware that you cannot control the reach of a social media post, even if you think your accounts have stringent privacy settings; things can spread. Misinformation can cause harm to patients, so it is important to be sure that all posts you make on social media regarding your field, or anything else related to healthcare science are backed up by scientific data.
Next, is the potential damage to the reputation of the NHS as a whole or the hospital, trust, or department you are representing. Appearing unprofessional online while obviously representing your place of work could lead to loss of the service users’ trust and could lead to discreditation of your service in the public’s eye.
Finally, it is worth noting that any account you have will be held to the same standards, this includes personal accounts as well as any professional accounts you may have and also includes any historic posts you have. It is therefore worth looking through old posts to ensure there is nothing against the HCPC code of conduct, which will be discussed further in the next teaching session, to avoid any resurfacing of historic posts.
Next I am going to talk through a potential scenario of a misuse of social media. So, Connor, is a healthcare professional, he has had a tough week at work and takes to X to complain about one of his colleagues, Millie, who he doesn’t have a very good relationship with.
Connor is unaware that a good friend of Millie’s follows him on X, they see the post and tell Millie about it
Millie then confronts Connor about the post but he refuses to apologise as believes that he can say whatever he wants on a personal account.
Upset by the response, Millie then escalates the issue to management who start an enquiry. Here, Connor has ended up in potential serious trouble because he was unaware who what he posted on X would reach and failed to maintain professional boundaries while using social media, thinking that because it was a personal account he can say what he wants.
Our second scenario involves Sarah, a trainee healthcare professional, she has an Instagram account where she documents her training and raises awareness of the job she does. While working from home one day she uploads of a photo of her while working.
She is unaware that her trust logo and some patient details are visible on her computer screen.
She is also unaware that one of her followers is the cousin of the patient whose information has accidentally been posted.
They inform their cousin of this breach of confidentiality and the patient makes an official complaint.
Here, Sarah is in potential serious trouble as she has not been careful about what she posts on Instagram and has accidentally breached confidentiality. She was also once again not thinking about who could see what she posted and was perhaps unaware of what classified as confidential.
These scenarios are not meant to scare you rather highlight to you the kind of mistakes that are easy to make and encourage you to really think about anything that you post that could go against the HCPC standards.
Accidental breaches of patient confidentiality are a significant risk. Even small details can be pieced together to reveal sensitive information.
2. Misinformation
Sharing inaccurate information can harm patients. Always ensure your posts are backed by scientific evidence and consider the reach of your content.
3. Professional reputation
Your online presence reflects on your organization. Unprofessional conduct can damage the reputation of your hospital or department.
4. Historical content
Your past social media posts can be scrutinized. Review them to ensure they align with the HCPC code of conduct.
Remember: These scenarios illustrate how easy it is to make mistakes on social media. Always think carefully about what you post to protect yourself, your patients, and your professional reputation.
