Social Media in Health Care - Term Paper Example

Social Media in Health Care; Merits, Demerits and Registered Nurse Responsibility: Electronic communication characterized by increased use of social media and mobile technologies are in dominant use in modern society, a factor reflecting in modern nursing practice. Continued expansion of social media space and interaction has led to the adaptation of professional communication by health practitioners. Interaction with patients on social media includes some of the changes necessitated by changing modes of communication in society (Gagnon & Sabus, 2015). The benefits of social media are immense, transforming how people interact, and ultimately, how organizations communicate with the people. Politics, for instance, is a major segment affected by social media, with the power of social media to reach the individual being a major strategy in modern mass campaigns. The traversing of social media in all spheres of life has led to benefits such as enhancement and culturing of social and professional relationships, exchange of knowledge among colleagues as well as discussing and disseminating knowledge in various fields of occupation. Social media also holds potential for use in disaster alerts as well in chronic disease management (Robledo, 2012). Nonetheless, unfiltered infiltration of social media sourced information into the workplace has the potential to create problems including privacy breaches for patients, inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information as well as the blurring of professional-personal boundaries. The registered nurse practitioner has a responsibility to ensure effective use of social media, between either colleagues as well as patients (Ventola, July 2014). This paper assesses the merits and demerits of using social media in for healthcare provision, as well as the responsibilities of the registered nurse in ensuring proper use of social media disseminating health information. Use of social media in the health sector continues to raise dissonance among many health providers, where its professional use in communicating with patients raises issues of ethical compliance (Weaver, et al., 2012). Nonetheless, the use of this medium does not create ethical dissonance where best practices are in place. A sound social media strategy includes comprehensive terms of service, professional standards as well as reinforced by organizational policy (Sarringhaus, 2011). In Australia, professional standards for social media use in nursing emanate from The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), in conjunction with the national boards. The policy guiding social media use in nursing practice emphasizes that registered nurses observe the National Law, the National Board’s code of ethics as well as abiding by professional standards (The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), 2014). Registered nurses use of social media avoids contravening regulation through compliance with professional obligations, confidentiality, and privacy compliance as well as disseminating evidence-based information. Social media is an evolution in the worldwide web, where the first generation of internet pages was institution generated and read-only, thereby offering a greater control on the content carried over the web. However, social media represents a read-write web platform where the users generate content carried for consumption by other users. The social media phenomenon has resulted in a shift in the way in which people seek and share information, where presently, consumers make decisions based on such information due to the aspect of interaction (Gagnon & Sabus, 2015). Social media is a consumer-driven phenomenon, with the individual users creating demand for information, including health information online. Users seek self-diagnosis information, while people living with chronic illnesses are also liable to seek peer-to-peer social platforms for support. Additionally, technological aids such as health tracking apps generate health information, which is also shared on the internet. Reviews made in online platforms also inform decisions on choice for a healthcare provider, while also provoking users to seek informed choices in choosing their care provider (Sarringhaus, 2011). Social Media Uses in Health Care Provision Professional Networking Physicians, as well as other health practitioners, favor the use of social media platforms offering participation in online communities, interact with experts in their field, as well as share with colleagues on issues facing their patients. Many of the platforms used by these professionals are exclusively accessible, catering only to people within the particular profession. Other than clinically inclined discussions, the platforms entertain discussions on varied topics including politics, ethical issues, biostatistics as well as career strategies and practice management (World Health Organization, 2011). Professional networking in healthcare may also incorporate crowdsourcing, where the skills of the group are used in solving a healthcare problem. Healthcare providers in third-world countries are also finding benefit from the use of social media, where procedures are exchanged in real time (World Health Organization, 2011). Professional Training Communication utility provided by social media also finds use in improving clinical education, where high social media use by young adults has prompted curricula adaptation in reflecting changing behavior and culture of incoming students (Sarringhaus, 2011). Further, institutions utilize social media in their recruiting drives, providing information on the institution as well as programs available prior to their enrolment. Social media also enables an increase in student access to virtual libraries as well as increasing time spent in virtual classrooms in addition to a host of other unique experiences. Nurse trainees, as well as learners in another medical field, are encouraged on social media use, where for instance, the creation of a hashtag on twitter facilitates sharing and conversation on a given topic. The interactive mode of instruction used in social media enables immediate feedback, where trainees have a central location to give and receive feedback from instructors (Weaver, et al., 2012). While courses incorporating the use of social media continue receiving positive reviews from learners and educators, some learners are concerned over the interlap of their personal and professional life by having to use social media for educative purposes (Sarringhaus, 2011). Organizational Promotion Healthcare organizations such as hospitals, professional societies as well as patient advocacy groups employ social media in a variety of ways. Among these uses include communicating with patients and community, aimed at fostering visibility, marketing, fundraising as well as customer support among other functions. The utility of social media use by a medical facility or a hospital is empirically proven, with a study reporting 57% of surveyed consumers indicating social media as a key determinant in their choice for a medical facility. Additionally, 81% of consumers felt that a strong social media presence serves as an indicator of a hospital’s ability to offer competitive services. Non-profit organizations have similarly embraced the use of social media platforms, where for instance, The Mayo Clinic remains a leader through its Social Media Health Network (Robledo, 2012). In its creation, Mayo Clinic intended for its forum to provide a genuine voice for healthcare professionals as well as patients, enabling relationship building through social media. Social media also facilitates program reminders for appointments as well as other engagements through social media messaging (Robledo, 2012). Patient Care Despite the existing apathy among healthcare providers in utilizing social media for patient care, the practice continues to gain ground among practitioners as well as health facilities. Pioneering institutions such as the Georgia Health Sciences University offer patients access to the WebView platform, which facilitates live interaction between doctors and their patients (Weaver, et al., 2012). Empirical evidence gathered indicates that over 60% of practitioners favored patient interaction through social media, where patient instruction, as well as monitoring, are facilitated. Further, the practitioners view social media as enabling behavioral changes as well as adherence to drugs. Proponents of this approach seek improved patient education, compliance and consequently better adherence to treatment regime (Henderson & Dahnke, Feb 2015). Despite the optimism, alternate studies point to a pervasive aversion to using social media in health provision. In a study done on 480 current and student physicians, 68% felt inherent ethical constraints in patient interactions either on a personal or on a professional basis (Lachman, 2013). Nursing Regulation as well as Concerns on Social Media use Social media utility to the nursing profession is undeniable, facilitating fast and efficient interaction between providers and consumers (Weaver, et al., 2012). However, inappropriate use of social media poses devastating repercussions for a registered nurse’s career. Social media misactions often commence without malevolence on the part of the nurse. However, social media interactions relating to medical practice bear potential to escalate into serious situations, occasioning patient privacy breaches as well as jeopardizing nurse’s careers. The nursing board investigates claims of nurse misuse of social media on grounds of unprofessional conduct, unethical conduct, moral amplitude, improper management of patient information, privacy breaches as well as exposing privileged material (Ventola, July 2014). Privacy breaches rank among the most serious aggravations that a nurse practitioner can commit while posting to their social networks. In safeguarding patient information, the nurse must respect both the privacy and confidentiality of information gathered in the care of a patient. Confidential information must never be shared in social networks without the informed consent of the patient, especially in cases requiring legal disclosure, or where disclosure may lead to significant harm to the patient. Patient privacy is important to nursing practice, given the nurse-patient relationship is dependent on trust. In this regard, the patient expects dignified and respectful care, where they are secure for the protection of their most private information as well as dignity by the nurse (Spector & Kappel, 2012). Boundaries between the patient and nurses are paramount, where the board discourages interaction between patients, former patients, and registered nurses through social media. Prohibition of this interaction ensures that the ethical duty of the nurse to maintain nurse-patient boundaries (Gagnon & Sabus, 2015). Conclusion A nurse’s use of social media in the professional setting is guided by several interacting spheres, illustrating an individual’s social media presence does not exist in isolation. Canvassing all communications in the given network are the terms of service stipulated platform, guiding general privacy issues as well as the confidentiality of information shared on the platform (Spector & Kappel, 2012). Further, professional standards guide the privacy and confidentiality of professional information the registered nurses are privy owing to their belonging to the profession. The organizational policy adds further safeguards by outlining the guidelines that organizational employees are to follow in managing patient information. At the core of social media policy, however, are the individual best practices needed in all registered nurses. Best practices such as the clear definition of social media goals, protection of patient privacy and confidentiality as well as familiarization with organizational policies are essentials for registered nurses in maintaining patient privacy (Henderson & Dahnke, Feb 2015). Owning social media views is also imperative since it ensures that the nurse holds responsibility for reactions occurring from their social media activities. Different social media accounts for different purposes, such as a facebook account for social interaction, as well as a linked-in account for professional purposes, presents the best alternative to online dual citizenship (Lachman, 2013). While nurses may attempt to delineate their professional and social identities, discoverability of information in social networks hampers this separation. While social media offers novel and interactive means for nurses to interact with their patients, it is the responsibility of the registered nurse to apply the same level of care in their online interactions as they would in interpersonal interactions. Bibliography Gagnon, K. & Sabus, C., 2015. Professionalism in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Considerations for Using Social Media in Health Care. Physical Therapy, p. Web. 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