HIPAA Violation?

[Morguein]

Hello. I hope someone can help me with this. I am confused about the whole HIPAA thing. Everything I learned at work about HIPAA was about not revealing a patient's name, room number, their address, phone number, or anything specific like that along with their diagnosis, etc... I did a dumb thing and posted something on my Facebook page about the day we had at work with a patient. I did not mention a name or describe the patient or anything like that. I was told by one of my coworkers that some of the other coworkers became upset by it and may go to management. So, I promptly deleted it. I didn't realize that it was wrong. My page is private, but I do have people from work on it. Can someone tell me what the law is regarding this. Everything I have read about HIPAA only talks about the obvious violations; but nothing about situations involving talking about something that happened at work without using personal information like names, etc... I'd appreciate any information regarding this. Thank you.

[nursel56]

If you are really, really fortunate this will be stopped in it's tracks without further repercussions and negative impact on your employment. We need to shout this from the hilltops--

:redlight:"Never ever ever post about your work on your Facebook page!!":redlight:

I understand completely that you didn't know- you didn't name names and your page is private. I know at least 2 people on this board who were fired because of this issue, and they had private FB pages, too. Hospitals are so paranoid about being sued, they won't be interested in the particulars or your motive in posting the info. It is far safer to keep it out entirely.

Sorry to sound like a Nervous Nellie but this has become a real hot button issue lately. All the best- hope everything turns out OK.

[redbeads]

We had issues with this in the last year as well....nobody was fired, but the managers did send out an email about keeping work details out of facebook postings. They said generic things like "had a good day at work today" and "work was really busy today" were okay, but nothing detailed or about a specific pt. even if the name or room number was not identified. I NEVER post anything about work....it's just not worth it AND I have removed people from my friends who DO post about work AND I definitely don't have managers as friends. Also, when it says on your info about "place of work" I just have "hospital", not the actual name of the hospital I work for.

[Bill E. Rubin]

I try not to be overly paranoid about things... But I do advise two things about work and facebook... 1) always assume everything you post on facebook will somehow possible to be seen by anybody. Yeah, our walls are "private" to our friends, etc, but things just have a knack of being seen by the wrong people. 2) when it comes to posting anything about work, it isn't HIPAA you need to be concerned about (assuming you don't post identifying details about your pts), but perceptions. Think of it this way... If your mother were in the hospital on a unit where some friends of yours who are nurses post things like, "God, I just can't stand caring for that pt with the know-it-all nurse **** for a daughter, etc." Even if they aren't talking about you or your mother, how would you feel knowing these people were caring for your mother? So if I post about work, in addition to keeping pt identification info out, I also tend to keep things positive, or at least consider how my post might look to (a) pts/families with pts at my hospital or unit and (b) my boss.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Don't post things about work anywhere!

If you have an issue at work, don't come to the internet....nothing is private.

I can't tell you how many posters post here and later frantically contact staff members because they were recognized!

[Bill E. Rubin]

Yes, what traumasRus said too... What I said also applies to allnurses.com, even more so since we have no control over who sees our posts here. I could try to hide my identity more than I do here on AN, but I just choose to avoid saying negative things about work instead. Besides, I love my job. :)

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

Remember, in this profession, or any other for that matter, you can be fired for almost anything. If you wan't to keep any of your jobs don't do any thing that even breathes of a possible hipaa violation. Remember the quote, "ignorance of the law is no excuse". Take it to heart. Any C+ lawyer could get you in big trouble.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

just get out the habit of bringing work home and talking about anybody

[Morguein]

Thank you all so much! I appreciate the time you took in responding to my questions. I've just gone through my FB page and pretty much deleted ANYTHING that might get me in trouble, including some personal pictures, even polls I've taken about gay marriages, spiritual or political issues. I even deleted posts that just said, "not looking forward to going work" in case someone thought it might be too negative. A bit paranoid? Yeah, probably. I guess I need some of that to think twice before posting anything. I do see a lot of nurses on this website talk about their day at work. Many present their "case" so to speak and want to know how they could have done things better or if they did thing right, etc... I mean, it's like everywhere on this website. And it's mostly done innocently; but I'm guess that a lot of people have gotten in trouble for posting such things on here. Anyway, lesson learned. Even though I am excited about some of the things we do on our unit, I will just keep it to myself. Thanks again everyone. :redpinkhe

[klone, MSN, RN]

I even deleted posts that just said, "not looking forward to going work" in case someone thought it might be too negative.

I think I would ESPECIALLY delete stuff like that. I know a woman who was hired at a clinic, and within her first week, was posting stuff like that on her Facebook page. Well, when they had to downsize, guess who was the first to go?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

It's pretty common for employers to do a websearch when thinking of hiring someone, to see what the person might have posted some place. So, be careful what you post for that reason.

As far as confidentiality goes, you never know who is reading what you post. Besides things being law violations, it's not ethical to talk about patients, period, other than with other team members caring for them.

[RockyCreek]

Beyond the HIIPA issues, can I also throw in an observation or two of my own? The general public really doesn't need to see pictures of their nurse drunk, laying in vomit or passed out in cars. If you have a tatto in a private place - let's keep that private. PLEASE don't put suggestive or lewd pictures ANYWHERE online - they have a way of 'showing up' in all the wrong places at all the wrong times! And, of course, if you have a something really nasty to say about a spouse/friend/ethnic group PLEASE don't say it online! For me, Facebook is just place to brag on the kids, keep up with family news and play a few mind-numbing games -- anything more is just asking for trouble. Just my opinion!