Title: HIPAA and Social Media: Best Practices | Accountable
Headings: HIPAA and Social Media: Best Practices
HIPAA and Social Media: Best Practices
HIPAA and Social Media Guidelines
PHI in Social Media
Cost of Noncompliance
Policies & Procedures
Social media in the Healthcare Industry
Don’ts:
Do’s:

Content: Refrain from discussing patients even in a general way via social media direct messages
Monitor the comment section and delete anything that could elicit a compromising response
Do’s: As we have seen there are many risks associated with social media usage in the healthcare industry affecting HIPAA compliance. However, with the proper precautions being taken, there are still many ways to use social media to benefit your healthcare organization. In general, social media can be used to attract new clients to your company or educate current clients on a topic or piece of news. Here are a few specific ways that covered entities can use social media beneficially: Offer health tips that patients might find helpful
Advertise upcoming events for patients to attend
Share new research in the field of your organization
Display honors or awards you have been given
Create profiles or biography of your staff
Post advertisements of your services as long as they DO NOT contain the PHI of any patient
Discounts or special offers on services you provide
The expectations and requirements of HIPAA can be difficult and confusing, especially in relation to social media where there are no specific laws for the topic. Social media can be used in many useful ways in healthcare but we have also seen that there is a high level of potential risk of HIPAA violations through these platforms. A strong understanding of HIPAA and it’s requirements will help to build guidelines and policies for managing social media in a HIPAA approved way.