Navigating the intersection of social media and HIPAA is crucial for healthcare professionals aiming to maintain compliance while engaging online. This complex area requires understanding specific guidelines that govern the sharing of patient information and the use of social platforms. As social media becomes increasingly integral to communication and marketing strategies, healthcare entities must ensure that their online activities protect patient privacy and adhere to HIPAA regulations. Our guidance helps professionals manage these challenges effectively, balancing the benefits of social media with the need for stringent privacy protections.
Apps like Facebook and Instagram help healthcare entities communicate with patients and relay vital health information. However, due to the high-risk nature of these platforms, it also comes with exponential risks that can lead to HIPAA violations. In fact, social media is one of the main avenues where breaches of protected health information (PHI) occur for healthcare organizations, which is why training employees on how to use these apps in conjunction with HIPAA rules is essential to protecting your practice or your organization from potential violations and fines.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule prohibits the use of personal health information (PHI) on social media. This includes posts or texts about patients and images or videos that may result in a patient being identified.
Some of the most common social media HIPAA violations include:
- Healthcare workers posting images or videos without a patient’s consent
- Posting photographs from inside a healthcare facility where a patient could be identified
- Sending pictures, videos or text to a private social media group
There are severe consequences and hefty penalties for healthcare organizations or employees that violate HIPAA, which is why all workers must be trained on HIPAA rules. Healthcare organizations must also implement a HIPAA social media policy to reduce the risk of privacy violations.
Two recent examples of HIPAA violations that have resulted in disciplinary action against the offenders include:
- In October 2019, a dental practice was fined $10,000 for impermissibly disclosing PHI on a social media review site.
- In January 2016, a nursing assistant was fired from her job and sentenced to 30 days in jail for posting a video of a patient online.
Keep in mind:
PHI can only be included on social media if a patient has given their consent, in writing, to allow their PHI to be used and then only for the purpose written in the consent form.
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MedSafe is the nation’s leading one-stop resource for outsourced accreditation and healthcare compliance solutions. For over 20 years, we have been providing peace of mind to hospital groups, private practices, and their business associates. Our suite of onsite and online training services, including OSHA, HIPAA, Corporate Compliance and Code Auditing better equip your practice with the necessary tools and skills to achieve and maintain regulatory billing compliance. MedSafe takes a hands-on approach and works directly with your team to uncover issues and define suitable solutions.
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