Facebook and HIPPA

[kdot2003]

This may have been covered before but I have a few questions. I work in a small rural hospital in L&D. My coworkers are posting comments on facebook which I feel are inappropriate. Now these comments do not mention patient names or any specific identifiers. In fact, one of the coworkers insists its "legal" to post this content because there are no "identifiers".. But I feel some of the patients can certainly be identified. Some of the recent comments are:

We had a rough night last nite, three patients got cut and another one will probably be cut soon.

We had three new babies and one had a broken clavicle

There are eight newborns in the nursery and three are sick

We had a code last night but the baby is ok now

I have been watching this situation from my facebook page for a few months now. I have tried to "warn" these nurses. One nurse had just recently passed boards. But nobody is listening to me and now they believe that its "legal". I don't agree but I need to find it in writing if that makes sense. I finally told my manager and she was shocked. She doesn't know much about the internet and had no idea. I didn't mention names. I don't really care if I **** off my coworkers. I think its immature and unethical. I am no Florence Nightingale but this just seems to be common sense. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

PLEASE.

SPREAD THE WORD.

It is HIPAA, not HIPAA.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

People I work with are shocked when they find out I'm on Facebook. I am friends with maybe only 2-3 co-workers. They personally asked me and made exceptions for them. I usually explain to people who ask that I choose to keep my private life very separate from work life.

I made this decision when I saw co-workers going to other co-worker's MySpace pages (that didn't require "friending") and making fun of their personal pictures (partying pictures, poor fashion choices, obese relatives). Any wonder I choose to keep my lives very separate?

I don't want to tempt my employer to have a real reason for terminating my employment.

By the way, the right to fire anyone for any (or not) reason is called "At Will" employment. "Right to Work" refers to a State allowing people to work even if they aren't part of a union.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

PLEASE.

SPREAD THE WORD.

It is HIPAA, not HIPAA.

Are you sure it's not HIPAA?

[greenclover]

Facebook is Devil's work....just wanted to put that out there.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Facebook, Smacebook, HIPPAA, HIPAA, Hippo.... Whether it's against the any law or not, it's surely against professionalism, honor, and trust our patients give us, to post or say anything publicly, anywhere, for the entertainment of others, or for our own stress-relief, when it could in ANY way hurt those we are helping!

....stepping off of soapbox....

[jennylouwho]

What about various docs, nurses, midwives who have blogs and blog about patient situations - changing enough to not make it a violation of HIPAA?

Although just a pre-nursing student, I have knowledge of HIPAA and have worked at a location where it is a major thing for eight years, yet I wouldn't give a second look to those status updates. I also wouldn't be upset if someone posted those updates about me.....because you really wouldn't be able to know who they were.

Further, many facebook pages are not open to the public. I have mine locked down pretty tight and control who sees what messages. I consider facebook to be chatter amongst friends. I won't say on FB, what I wouldn't say at a lunch with my friends, for instance. I certainly wouldn't be at lunch and violating HIPAA, though I might be vague about certain situations.

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

I can understand saying I'm going to work or had a tough shift today etc. but why the need to spew on FB about your job when most of the people you are spewing too don't understand a thing about nursing and don't really care anyway?

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I just noticed that one of my coworkers has been publishing Facebook status updates during her entire shift. Forget about HIPAA, how about being a professional?

!Chris

[Pat_Pat RN]

Facebook, Smacebook, HIPPAA, HIPAA, Hippo.... Whether it's against the any law or not, it's surely against professionalism, honor, and trust our patients give us, to post or say anything publicly, anywhere, for the entertainment of others, or for our own stress-relief, when it could in ANY way hurt those we are helping!

....stepping off of soapbox....

And the "rants" posted on this website are........what exactly?

[Pat_Pat RN]

I have my nursing supervisor as a friend on facebook, and I've posted about patients I've taken care of that have passed....never heard a word.

Lots of the nurse I work with are my friends, FB and in real life. I guess that is the difference in working in a small town hospital vs. a mega-medical center.

My co-workers are my friends. These are the same people I goto church with, have over for dinner, got out to eat with, have kids play groups, etc.

"I was born in a small town,

prob'ly die ina a small town...."

[John--RN]

Thank you John Cougar Mellencamp

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Some of the rants posted here, Pat Pat, are outside what I think should be discussed in a public forum too...