Perfect App for Nursing Students

[JulietGause]

I'm a second-year nursing student at UCLA and I recently found this app that I absolutely love. It's pretty much "Instagram for doctors", where doctors and nurses post pictures of the injuries and diseases they see on the job. It's actually really addictive to scroll through if you want more exposure to the kinds of things we'll see in clinicals and in the workplace. I haven't started clinicals yet but I'm already starting to feel more familiar with the kinds of cases I'll see in the hospital. You can also filter through specific categories according to speciality if you know what kind of nursing you're interested in. Just thought I would share if any of you are interested! You can get the app here: Figure 1 | Medical Images Let me know if any of you guys try it out, and any advice for clinicals is much appreciated!

[Beck1956]

Good advice! People ruin careers by posting inappropriate things on social media.

Beck

[Beck1956]

Using an image of a patient without their express written consent is a violation of that patient's right to privacy, even if identifying information is removed and the face is blurred. Would, you be able to recognize a picture of yourself, even if the face was blurred? It might be a fun, interesting app, but is it ethical to post these pictures?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

A good example would be the current lawsuit against ABC, NYMed, Dr Oz et al for displaying the last moments of a victim pedestrian vs dump truck for the family and all the world to live over again. His face was blurred, no name. But it was still enough identifying information to result in a HIPAA violation citation & resultant fines. This app runs the same risks. Even with the blurring of the faces it may not be enough to de-identify confidential patient information. I've seen trauma life in the ER episodes filmed in local facilities with staffers blurred but definitely recognizable same with patients especially if a newsworthy incidents.

[vanilla bean]

Nope. Not OK. Wonder if it makes big fans of the app go through their work day with their camera phones in their pockets ready to whip them out for a pic at the first sign of something to 'share.'

[Beck1956]

This could (and probably should) be reported to the app marketplaces where it is marketed. The marketplace might also be held accountable for the privacy violations in a lawsuit.

[JulietGause]

I encourage you to watch this video (

) explaining patient privacy on the app and read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for it before you suggest legal action could be taken.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Whether the person is identifiable or not, it's not ok to share a person's private moments,

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Is express written consent obtained from the patient that their images or likeness can be spread via an mobile phone app? If not good luck. NY Med already lost the HIPAA claim even with claiming a news media exemption.

[NicoleLynch, ADN, BSN, RN]

Cool! Just downloaded it to my phone. Thanks!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

"If it's pixels, it's public." Never underestimate the ability of hackers or others to find work-arounds for such "safeguards."

I see this as an unnecessary app in the first place, as there is, as I said, plenty of comparable stuff out there already. It's also not remotely comparable to two clinicians sharing chart materials or journals publishing pictures for which the subject must give consent to use of his/her image even if blurred or masked (this is vaguely reminiscent of, "But Mom, everybody else is doing it!"). All the legalese and assurances in the developers' website does not change that.

[Krzysztof]

We advise our staff and providers (especially the super-excited incoming residents) to even avoid taking photos of one another while in patient areas - due to the opportunity for something as seemingly meaningless as an identifiable foot to end up in the picture.

That having been said, the app is awesome. I would browse; never contribute.

[CoachChris]

Interesting and educational app. I wouldn't post anything though. I hope there is a feature that prevents anyone from reposting pictures in other social media not connected with the site.