UCCC Social Media Policy

Communication has been permanently changed by social media. A wide conceptual definition of social media, as cited in Ressler & Glazer (2010), is “The online and mobile accessible services that enable individuals to connect, collaborate, and share with others in real time.” Social media has an obvious influence on informal communication style and represents both possibility and liability for healthcare institutions. As cited in Bernhardt, Alber, & Gold (2014), “Social media provide healthcare professionals with tools to share information, to debate health care policy and practice issues, to promote health behaviors, to engage with the public, and to educate and interact with patients, caregivers, students, and colleagues.” It also presents challenges, including risks to information accuracy, organizational reputation, and individual privacy. Social media can be a very helpful in communicating among nurses and other healthcare providers while creating professional connections, and sharing experiences, but guidelines for appropriate use by healthcare providers are essential. Whether or not certain healthcare organization decides to use social media as a communications tool - social media policy still need to be implemented. Policies help establish an organization 's rules and expectations around social media.

A growing hot topic, and cause for concern is the increasing use of social media in the workplace. The landscape for communication has changed, and the line between personal and professional communications has been blurred. How will your employer manage the risks associated with the use of social media and at the same time, gain the benefits that this media form provides? While many employers were initially concerned that employees would use company time and equipment for socializing with friends, they are quickly learning that many social networks can also be used directly for work purposes.

There are laws in place that protect a patient in the health care setting. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPAA, as it is known in the healthcare field, was designed to protect the privacy,confidentiality and security of patient information (Pozgar, 2013).Employees the health care field are very aware of HIPAA and the rights of their patients. All staff knows that patient information can only be discussed with qualified individuals on a need to know basis. Speaking about cases outside of work is strictly prohibited. Photography or recording of any patient interaction is also a breach of a patient's rights as well. The problem with this is that there are many policies in place to protect the

Health care members are required to guarantee that the privacy of the patient’s health information does not get out without the patient’s permission. Healthcare workers can use the patient information for treatment or payment cleared by HIPAA. The worker must get permission from the patient before they

These employees aired their frustrations on social media about the manager. The decision rendered in this matter was that Social media comments are protected concerted activity according to Section 7of National Labor Relations Act. Furthermore, because their postings were a continuation of the employees’ efforts to address concerns.

In the article that I have read it states over the years they have been advising their company that the punishment of the employees will be on social media it has developed an uncertain professional business. The National Labor Relations Boards has made the position that the worker’s comment on the social media is very often protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act even after the verbal used is unsuitable or

The NLRB has made findings regarding the use of employee posts on Social Media sites to discipline or terminate those employees. Typically these cases occur when an employee posts “negative” information about their current employer or boss. Sometimes these are “public” and other times the employer uses “spies” or “fake friending” to see the Facebook page of the employee.

When I was a manager at a company, I had to administer many policies as they related to my employees. On of these policies was called the Social Media Policy. This policy was meant to protect the company from malicious posts regardless of the intent. To summarize this policy stated that if you in anyway identified yourself as an employee. So if an employee wanted to they could rant about the company or other employees as long as they did not identify the company, list the company as an employer or list the names of employees that are know to work for the company. This policy was created solely because of individually that lacked a filter or the common sense to think about what they were posting.

P2: Content posted on social media should remain at the discretion of the employee posting it.

Healthcare providers are required to protect health information such as verbal, paper, or electronic that relates to the past, present, or future health of an individual, both mental and physical, and even when an individual is deceased, this information is known as Protected Health Information (PHI). Protected Health Information created or received by a Covered Entity or Business Associate is protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Healthcare team members and Business Associates have varying levels of access to Protected Health Information. Medical and technical healthcare members each have certain responsibilities, an example of this would be, Medical Assistants may read, but not create or modify the PHI in electronic health records/electronic

While social media platforms present avenues for the freedom of expression, the rules or regulations that guide the privilege may sometimes be curtailed or applied wrongly. Employees and organizations are facing the dilemma on what to post or not to post on these platforms. An employee may decide to air something through these public arenas without the knowledge that their actions may surpass their rights and thus infringe on others’ rights or cause damages to other people (Boyce, 2014). On the other hand, an organization may control the communication of employees on social media platforms to the extent that it violates their rights and privileges. It is in this respect that this paper explores the Facebook and Praxel cases as they are related to these matters.

The use of Social Networking will be utilized and maintained for the company by the marketing department only; any personal use will be strictly prohibited by employees or volunteer staff while performing duties; Example Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Myspace, Flickr, Google, Pinterest or LinkedIn.

Robson, E. (2010, December 15). Social media policies: What you need to know [magazine]. FireRescue 1. Retrieved from http://www.firerescue1.com/fire-department-management/articles/921614-Social-media-policies-What-you-need-to-know/

The use of social media within the fire service is a controversial civil issue in which parties on both sides may feel as though his or her rights have been violated. Many fire and emergency services organizations, nationwide have established policies that prohibit and/or restrict the use of social media by employees, due to the growing problems associated with its use. Social networking is a relatively new issue to the legal system with judicial opinions that vary in wide degree. Social networking has become a tool that can convey a positive or negative image upon a fire department, therefore posting must be performed in good taste as to not convey negative public opinion upon the fire department and its members.

It is very important to note that employers continue to monitor online activity; this is because employees represent the company despite being “off the clock”. More and more employers monitor online social media every year because like companies in British Columbia, they want to protect their image and their employees. It is extremely important to keep friends and work separate. It is important to monitor pictures posted as well. At the time, it may seem like a funny idea, but it is important to monitor what you post because it will be seen later on down the road. It is also of extreme importance to keep secrets and bad mouthing minimal online because they will become public and could lead to defamation. It is also important to not post anything inappropriate and oversharing of venting problems. This can lead to conflict and also problems that will stick with the rest of your life.