In UK Data Protection Act limits healthcare providers from disclosing any personal information without patient consent with few exemptions. The only occasions when this would be acceptable is if a patient gave prior authorization in … Nevertheless in the past have been reported many incidents of inappropriate use of social media and unprofessional behaviour where patient’s personal data disclosed on the internet without their consent or cases where patients offended because of comments made from other users related to their health status. In recent years a huge number of people around the world have become active users of social media. Providers have a duty to peer-regulate and intervene in the case of inappropriate smartphone use. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. As a regulated industry, many healthcare organizations have avoided the use of social media, and have even tried to squelch its use by their employees. Any healthcare professional who’s been active on social media has doubtless seen some of the totally unfounded medical claims that circulate online. Healthcare institutions should have protocols for reporting and addressing inappropriate use of smartphone photography. Social media include various websites such as Facebook and Twitter which are the two most popular social networking providers, video sharing websites like YouTube, a variety of blogs which enable users to post their own articles and allow visitors to leave feedback, discussion forums and other social networking platforms of communication that people can use for educational or other purposes. Inappropriate use of social media can affect healthcare’s personal and professional life. 12. Examples of inappropriate conduct. Since the emergence of social media in 2004, a growing percentage of patients use this technology for health related reasons. In addition diagnosis can become unreliable due to lack of information and accuracy of data provided by the patient or due to underestimation of the seriousness of the situation, making online consultation inferior to a face to face consultation. Considering this amount of people it is easy to understand how important is for Healthcare Professionals to use social media wisely and with professionalism. 11. However concerns have been raised in the past related to protection of personal data. In addition diagnosis can become unreliable due to lack of information and accuracy of data provided by the patient or due to underestimation of the seriousness of the situation, making online consultation inferior to a face to face consultation. Social media is without a doubt playing a major part in patient engagement, marketing efforts and an overall sense of communication within the industry. Below are details of 65 incidents since 2012 in which workers at nursing … However this way of communication can be very ineffective, as examining and interpreting medical notes without the availability of a full medical history and with the absence of physical exams can be a serious threat to the patient (Britton, 2012). Social media is intended to provide individuals the ability to access information … Patients have the ability to share their concerns and discuss about common diseases or possible medical treatments and on the other hand Healthcare Professionals are enabled to share information, experiences and ideas supporting their lifelong learning (KPMG, 2011). Inappropriate use of social media can affect healthcare’s personal and professional life. Posting protected health information (PHI) on social media sites, including closed Facebook groups, violates HIPAA Rules. Inappropriate use of social media can affect healthcare’s personal and professional life. This essay may contain factual inaccuracies or out of date material. The best way to ensure children understand the rights and wrongs of social media use is to create a family social media plan. For instance, they should not discuss about health related matters on a friendly but only on a professional level. This advantage gave them the opportunity to expand their activities introducing new services such as the online consultation and the provision of different treatment options at low cost. Many social networks upload and share data without considering any legal or ethical considerations. While a majority of it is perfectly innocent, there have been times that the wrong words or even images have created a firestorm between employee and employer. It is therefore Healthcare professional’s ethical and legal responsibility to protect patient confidentiality at all times on the internet as well as to other media. According to The Register, over 1,200 members of NHS staff have had to be reprimanded over their use of social media since 2013.. At least 65 NHS workers have lost their … Figures released to Guardian Healthcare … To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on the UKDiss.com website then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! Social Media can be an extremely powerful tool for communicating general healthcare information to the public, creating professional connections, and sharing experiences. For instance, they should not discuss about health related matters on a friendly but only on a professional level. 13. Background. As the Internet, social media, and other new technologies have advanced and made deep inroads into health care, new areas of potential liability have emerged. According Data Protection Act (1998) all personal data should be fairly and lawfully processed, they should be used for limited and specific purposes in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive, they should be accurate, held up to date and for no longer than its necessary and finally should be kept safe and not transferred to countries without adequate date protection. Network of Global Agenda Councils Reports (2011-2012) showed that worldwide more than 1.2 billion of people use social media, a number that accounts for 82% of all internet users around the world (Councils, 2012). Many of these users explore internet in order to access medical information and other to share their concerns about health related issues or to seek out medical treatment. The use of social media in sharing patient information has come under fire, with well over a thousand members of NHS staff being disciplined for inappropriate use of these platforms – and messengers – over five years. With the use of social media, the users can reach a large audience in a matter of seconds, with this ease; users can transmit information and has presented challenges in the form of unauthorized disclosure of patient’s health information on social media sites. Improper use of social media, especially Facebook, is leading to disciplinary action against staff at a number of English trusts. The plan will match the unique characteristics of the family, and it will state clearly what is appropriate use of social media and what is inappropriate use. Inappropriate social media communication can complicate efforts of nursing students to find employment after graduation. Also in my opinion healthcare professionals should only share medical documents that based on scientific studies while patients should consult their health provider before taking any action based on information obtained using social media. NHS in UK uses social media in order to improve public health by providing health related information through NHS choices. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Today more than 40% of consumers say that the information they read in social media affects how they deal with their health 1 —and two-thirds of doctors use social media … All work is written to order. It has more than 100,000 followers on Twitter, where on a typical day in February it published an announcement of a major philanthropic gif… Network of Global Agenda Councils Reports (2011-2012) showed that worldwide more than 1.2 billion of people use social media, a number that accounts for 82% of all internet users around the world (Councils, 2012). This advantage gave them the opportunity to expand their activities introducing new services such as the online consultation and the provision of different treatment options at low cost. Furthermore many healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists and nurses use social media as a platform of communication to promote patient health and safety as well as an education tool (Frances Griffiths, 2012). Many healthcare organizations are using social media to engage with patients and consumers. Also gives them the ability to participate on their own care in order to manage their health and monitor their treatment by having quick access to medical journals and having view of different treatment options before and during consultation from their doctor and by using health related online applications. Inappropriate use of these technologies can have far-reaching ramifications for professionally licensed providers. In UK Data Protection Act limits healthcare providers from disclosing any personal information without patient consent with few exemptions. Social media enables cheating on school assignments and exams. Inappropriate use of social media can affect healthcare’s personal and professional life. Info: 1966 words (8 pages) Essay Disclaimer: This essay has been written by a student and not our expert nursing writers. Breach of personal data protection, publication of untrustworthy medical documents and faulty consultation due to lack of evidence can be some of the pitfalls that users may face. Finally I believe that healthcare professionals should be restricted from disclosing patient personal information on public internet forums and any health related data should be safeguarded and be disclosed only to the patient or other healthcare professionals if it’s necessary and only for the use of medical purposes and with the consent of the patient. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NursingAnswers.net. Copyright © 2003 - 2021 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Healthcare professionals who choose to interact with patients online must maintain appropriate boundaries concerning the relations between them. There are personal data that should not be allowed to be shared through social media as it is very likely patients to be offended. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Please refer to an authoritative source if you require up-to-date information on any health or medical issue. These incidences encouraged British Medical Association to provide guidance to its members about how to use social media in an appropriate way. In order to avoid these drawbacks both patients and healthcare professionals need to understand the limitations of the use of social media. But with the growth of these tools come other issues to consider -- such as the legal ramifications of using outlets like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn within a healthcare setting. NHS in UK uses social media in order to improve public health by providing health related information through NHS choices. Company Registration No: 4964706. There are cases where social media used to promote communication both among patients and among Healthcare Professionals. Nevertheless in the past have been reported many incidents of inappropriate use of social media and unprofessional behaviour where patient’s personal data disclosed on the internet without their consent or cases where patients offended because of comments made from other users related to their health status. Guardian reported that between 2008 and 2011, were carried out 72 separate actions by 16 trusts against staff for inappropriate use of social media. The rapid growth and widespread use of social media has changed the way many people communicate and share information. Nursing Essay Inappropriate use of social media can lead to disciplinary action, which can, in the most serious cases, negatively affect both a nurse’s career and his/her licensure. Potential risks among others include the breach of personal data, the publication of poor quality medical information and the underestimation concerning the seriousness of a situation from a healthcare professional either due to lack of adequate information or due to provision of incorrect or inaccurate data provided by a patient during an online consultation (Harlow, 2012). *You can also browse our support articles here >. VAT Registration No: 842417633. Here are some ideas of posts that could cause problems for employees: 1. Instances of inappropriate use of social and electronic media may be reported to the BON. Internet usage statistics showed that the adults that are active users of Facebook and Twitter in UK come to 37.4 million and 15.5 million respectively (Ayres, 2012). 11th Feb 2020 Social media spreads academic research to a wider audience. Social media is being used by people across the healthcare system, so it is prudent to discuss the benefits, risks, and best practices for social media amongst nurses. (see the definition of protected health information for further information). Social media conduct is a thorny issue in the healthcare sector, where HIPAA rules and patient confidentiality are extremely important but also all too easy to break. On the other hand the rapid and uncontrolled sharing of information can result to potential risks and have negative impact to the provision of health care and personal lives of both patients and healthcare professionals. Also it has been integrated to other social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote its services and offer a broad spectrum of applications. Two high-risk areas include: Violations of patient privacy and/or confidentiality. Copyright © 2003 - 2021 - NursingAnswers.net is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Social media have also become an essential way for healthcare professionals to provide their services in order to improve and monitor patient needs such as the online consultation. In order to avoid these drawbacks both patients and healthcare professionals need to understand the limitations of the use of social media. It directly reflects on the entire nursing profession, long regarded as one of the most trusted and ethical professions, negatively affecting the nurse-patient relationship. Reference this. With that in mind, professionals should tread lightly, understanding that patient privacy and HIPPA requirements are serious concerns.. Nowadays social media have become an integral part of our lives. Publishing personal information of patients without their consent can result to legal implications. Prohibitions against disclosing confidential information. Also it has been integrated to other social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote its services and offer a broad spectrum of applications. Social networks have become an important health resource, and not just for millenials. Also gives them the ability to participate on their own care in order to manage their health and monitor their treatment by having quick access to medical journals and having view of different treatment options before and during consultation from their doctor and by using health related online applications. Social media encourages amateur advice and self-diagnosis of health problems. Set and Enforce Guidelines for Children’s Social Media Use. Laws outlining the basis for disciplinary action by a BON vary between jurisdictions. In … Some social networking platforms are free to the public but to some other the patients will have to pay if they need an online consultation by a healthcare professional or if they wish to discuss and share their concerns with other healthcare providers or other patients that suffering from the same condition. Nursing Health and Social Media Nurses can use a variety of social media programs to advance their personal and professional goals. No plagiarism, guaranteed! Free resources to assist you with your nursing studies! Furthermore many healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists and nurses use social media as a platform of communication to promote patient health and safety as well as an education tool (Frances Griffiths, 2012). HIPAA and Social Media The first rule of using social media in healthcare is to never disclose protected health information on social media channels. Social Media use is growing and not likely to disappear and already the general public and healthcare organizations are already engaging in social media for healthcare communication and treatment. This is particularly important for healthcare organizations, because it may not be obvious what constitutes protected healthcare information (PHI). If you need assistance with writing your nursing essay, our professional nursing essay writing service is here to help! Inappropriate uses of social media on an organization's network and personal social media sites. However irresponsible and misuse use of social media can result to a number of unpleasant situations. These services and applications enable patients to decide whether or not they require visiting a doctor for further advice retaining their privacy. The intersection of social media and health informatics is a brave new world that largely involves uncharted waters. Social media and healthcare are a powerful combination. For instance online healthy life style advisor, smoking secession programmes and body mass index (BMI) health weight calculator. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. Healthcare professionals must recognize that they have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality at all times and need to be aware that social media cannot be completed safe for protecting the information they share. Some social networking platforms give the ability to the users to set privacy settings in order to prevent uncontrolled distribution of data and to put restrictions to individuals seeking access to information that have been chosen to be kept private (Thompson LA, 2008). Patients have the ability to share their concerns and discuss about common diseases or possible medical treatments and on the other hand Healthcare Professionals are enabled to share information, experiences and ideas supporting their lifelong learning (KPMG, 2011). Use of smartphones for personal calls, texting and social media apps is to be avoided in patient care areas. Healthcare employees are tasked not only with maintaining patient confidentiality and privacy, but also serve to represent their place of employment in a positive manner. (Laja, 2011). This will cause the patient to capitalize on the doctor’s consultation appropriately and follow essential tips for a better result and will make it easier to healthcare professional to give the most appropriate advice. Our nursing and healthcare experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have, from simple essay plans, through to full nursing dissertations. In UK there is not any specific guidance provided from the Health and Care Professions Council, but it has been made clear that social media should be used within the relevant standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Social media is used by 74% of Internet users and 80% of people using social media actually use it to research doctors, hospitals, and medical news and information. It can be hard to know how to navigate the challenges of social media in healthcare. However, … It recognises that social networking is a valuable way to communicate and share information but also points out that the healthcare professionals who will decide to use it as part of their work must make sure that will behave with honesty and integrity for the best interest of the public protecting patient confidentiality and exhibiting their professionalism at all times (Health Professions Council Newsletter: Issue 34 – April 2011). We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. Likewise social media used from healthcare professionals to connect with individuals from different geographical areas in order to contribute on their health improvement by providing them with medical documents and by creating discussion forums on health related topics. These services and applications enable patients to decide whether or not they require visiting a doctor for further advice retaining their privacy. There are cases where social media used to promote communication both among patients and among Healthcare Professionals. Likewise social media used from healthcare professionals to connect with individuals from different geographical areas in order to contribute on their health improvement by providing them with medical documents and by creating discussion forums on health related topics. Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers must exercise caution concerning what they share online, as even innocuous-seeming posts can constitute violations of patient rights under HIPAA. Social media poses hazards for healthcare professionals and students, who must remember that professional standards are the same online as in any other circumstance. Creating bounds between personal and professional use of social media is essential. The sharing of PHI such as photos and video clips of patients through messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype, is also a violation of HIPAA. This will cause the patient to capitalize on the doctor’s consultation appropriately and follow essential tips for a better result and will make it easier to healthcare professional to give the most appropriate advice. In UK operate websites like NetDoctor.co.uk which is provided and operated by National Health Service (NHS) and offer a wide range of services such as pregnancy email service and online doctor diagnosis from registered UK-based General practitioners, discussion forums and online applications like symptom checker that help patients to get a better understanding of their healthcare needs. Healthcare professionals must recognize that they have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality at all times and need to be aware that social media cannot be completed safe for protecting the information they share. In UK operate websites like NetDoctor.co.uk which is provided and operated by National Health Service (NHS) and offer a wide range of services such as pregnancy email service and online doctor diagnosis from registered UK-based General practitioners, discussion forums and online applications like symptom checker that help patients to get a better understanding of their healthcare needs. Additionally in order to ensure that high quality information is provided and that a conversation between a patient and a healthcare professional will have a positive outcome, both of them must build a relationship of trust by being precise and honest to each other regarding the information they share. All work is written to order. On the other hand the rapid and uncontrolled sharing of information can result to potential risks and have negative impact to the provision of health care and personal lives of both patients and healthcare professionals. Health And Social Care. 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