Kathleen Stein, CCLSKendra Frederick, MS, CCLS

What’s your “Status”?Ethics of Social Media in

Healthcare

• Explore the benefits and potential challenges of utilizing social media in a healthcare setting

• Illustrate the variable acceptance of social media within disciplines

• Become familiar with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Child

Life Council, and hospital policies on social media

• Compare/review data collected from a multidisciplinary team and Child Life Council members

• Discuss and explore creative solutions to maintain relevance with patients and families in the cyber age

Goals and Objectives

What is it??

Web-based & mobile technologies that allow for the creation and exchange of user-generated content for social interaction.

Created in 2002….now more than 175 million users

Created in 2003….now more than 25 million users

Created in 2004….now more than 900 million users

Created in 2005…..now more than 2 billion views per day **Child Life has their own YouTube channel!!!**

Created in 2006…now more than 500 million users

Created in 2010…now more than 80 million users

Evolution of Social Media

Benefits of Social Media“I do believe in some situations it could help, especially with our teen population.”“Makes the medical-patient relationship less intimidating for patient and their families.”“Patients and families seem to feel more at ease when they get to know you a little better outside their illness.”“For chronic patients, it helps you to see how they manage their disease as an outpatient. Thus, allowing more insight for inpatient management.”“Helps with social/sexual/drug history.”

“I have used social media as a way to provide group support for patients/families”

“Able to connect better”

“Learn the likes and dislikes of patients”

Potential downfalls of Social Media

“People use social media primarily to socialize. It is hard to both socialize with your own private friends/ family and then have to change gears and remain completely professional with patients/families.”

“Crosses professional boundaries”

“I don’t want the patient or family to know about my personal life”

“I feel I would get way to attached to the patient.”

“Afraid to lose my job.”

“Unethical”

“HIPAA laws”

Survey ResultsInterdisciplinary Survey Child Life Council Survey

103 surveys returned

Consists of nursing, patient care associates, physicians, and child life specialists.

29% have “friended” patients and families

254 surveys returned

Consists of certified child life specialists, child life students, and individuals awaiting certification exam results.

16% have “friended” patients and families

It’s changing our way of life…

46.5% of patients and families have initiated contact with staff via social media16.7% of staff stated that the contact was “accepted” would continue

11.8% of staff are generally comfortable using social media to connect with families

Does SM help you to provide better care?

“I believe there are pros and cons to using social media. People use social media primarily to socialize. It is hard to both socialize with your own private friends/ family and then have to change gears and remain completely professional with patients/families. I do believe in some situations it

could help, especially with our teen population.”- CCLS

Have you ever “Googled” a patient or family?

“The question is not ‘Do we do social

media?’

The question is ‘How well we do social

media?’”-Soyer, 2012

37% of CL members surveyed were not aware of the Child Life Guidelines on social media

Did you know?

CLC current policy…Principle 4 -- Individuals shall respect the privacy of children and families and shall maintain confidentiality of information concerning the children and their families with whom they workPrinciple 10 -- Individuals shall use integrity to assess and amend any personal relationships or situations that may interfere with their professional effectiveness, objectivity or otherwise negatively impact the children and families they serve. A minimum of two years following the conclusion of a professional role shall lapse before any personal relationship is permittedChild Life Council Code of Ethical Responsibility; March 2000

AAP policy…“ . . .physicians must exercise substantial care in nonprofessional relationships with patients and families to promote the highest possible degree of trust in the doctor-patient-family relationship.”Pediatrician-Family-Patient Relationships: Managing the Boundaries Pediatrics 2009, 124: 1685-1688

Social Media Policies

A lot of people are using it and it’s easy…

but, is it ethical!?

RN identities patient as her “brother” under the information section.

Family and RN communicate via Facebook and socialize outside of the hospital.

Comments?

Let’s “chat”….

Nurse posts this photo of a patient’s IV pole on Facebook. Labels on bags clearly show patient’s name and medical record number.

Photo description states the patient’s room number.

Derogatory comments are made about the practice of other staff.

What are the possible ramifications of this?

Let’s “chat”….

Let’s “chat”….Staff member posts a

picture of herself drinking in uniform.

What, if any, issues does this create for the staff member?

A family posts the following to Face- book. You see staff comment about the MD and give medical advice to the parents.

What do you do?

Let’s “chat”….

Let’s “chat”….As a Child Life Specialist, you see this post by an RN you work with.

What are your thoughts?

What, if any, are your next steps?

ReferencesBrown, D. (2010). 52 Cool Facts about Social Media. Retrieved from www.dannybrown.me

Fanaroff, J. (2011). Physicians face medicolegal risks when using social media. American Academy of Pediatrics. Vol. 32, No. 11, p 17 & 18.

Hersch, D, M.D., (2011). Hospital Staff Usage of Social Media to Connect with Patients and their Families. (Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Ethics Committee).

Soyer, A. (2012): Social Media in Healthcare: A primer for Orthopedic Surgeons. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 5-30

Wiener, L. PhD, Crum, C. MPH, Grady, C. PhD, Merchant, M. MD, PhD. (2012). To Friend or Not to Friend: The Use of Social Media in Clinical Oncology. Journal of Oncology Practice. 103-105

Contacts

Katie L. Stein, CCLS

Kathleen.Stein@ynhh.org | 203-453-2013

Kendra L. Frederick, MS, CCLS

Kendra.Frederick@ynhh.org | 203-688-2335