Complete Guide to HIPAA Social Media Rules

It’s a fact that the majority of the staff at your office use social media. There is a chance that an employee could breach HIPAA on social media even while they are not working.

Social media marketing is likely being used by your clinic as well. Social media marketing is fantastic, but it makes it easier for protected health information to be compromised.

In general, it’s possible to violate HIPAA rules if PHI is posted on social media without patient consent.

HIPAA and Social Media

In order to guarantee complete secrecy, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed in 1996, aims to protect patient privacy and health information.

This law was in place long before social media, but it undoubtedly affects what medical institutions may and cannot communicate online.

Violators of the HIPAA social media rules risk severe repercussions, such as a fine or possibly the revocation of their license.

Because of this, maintaining HIPAA compliance on social media is essential for both the organization and the patients.

According to HIPAA, all PHI must be kept off social media sites unless the patient has specifically given their consent.

What precautions should my employees take on social media?

Avoiding social media interactions with patients

Don’t respond to any posts the patient makes concerning their health issues.

Never post anything about patients on social media; even if the post doesn’t specifically name the patient, it could still violate HIPAA.

Avoid snapping images and sharing them online (a patient chart could go unnoticed in the background)

For a health practitioner, a violation could be fatal to their career.

However, it would be prudent for personnel to refrain from posting PHI on social media after finishing their shift. Even if an employee doesn’t fear losing their job or their career, HIPAA violations can result in jail time.

The acknowledgment or exposure of information in comments on social media is a straightforward error that could violate HIPAA compliance.

These remarks may be made on a post you have written or on the social media page of another person.

Even though the information is publicly accessible, the company is not allowed to provide specifics.

This includes mentioning how they handled that specific case, the circumstances surrounding it, and the parties involved.

This holds true for any online content, including news articles, patient testimonials, posts from other health care providers, etc.