Neda M. Ryan, JD
LEGAL UPDATE
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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Protect Your Social Media Presence
Are your online interactions legal and secure?
S
ocial media has revolutionized communication between health-
care providers and patients. It's also sparked thorny legal and
ethical concerns. Imprudent use of such online outlets as
Facebook, Twitter and the like — not just by a facility or practice, but
also by physicians, nurses, administrative personnel and other
employees on their own — could violate federal and state laws, and
adversely impact a business's reputation. As a result, it's important to
be aware of the potential pitfalls of social media and to implement a
policy governing its use.
Watch your step
A social media presence can be a powerful marketing tool and a use-
ful adjunct to
your patient
care. The ease
with which
communica-
tion is facili-
tated online,
though, leads
many people
to forget the
possible mis-
steps in elec-
tronic interac-
tions.
Patient pri-
vacy is huge.
KEEP IT LEGAL A social media policy
can help to keep your facility's online
presence and employees' activities in
line with patient privacy regulations.
