As health practitioners in Australia, you can not be too careful and aware of what you post on social media from Facebook to Snapshot. For example, just the smallest error, like taking a harmless photo of yourself in the halls of a hospital and without thinking you forget you are holding a patient’s chart. If someone zooms into that chart and reports it, AHPRA can consider that as a breach of patient confidentiality.
Social Media is Not a Toy
At Tego Insurance, providers of medical indemnity insurance and medical malpractice insurance, we understand that patients must trust their health practitioners. It is the responsibility of all doctors, nurses, facilities, etc to uphold a patient’s right to confidentiality.
That is why we are so prudent about informing our clients about the pitfalls of social media. Not only does inadvertent usage of social media lead to unintended disclosure but it may also harm your patient. There is risk involved if a patient is recognised through their clothing jewellery and even tattoos.
AHPRA’s Social Media Policy
The best way to be certain that you are not violating any of your professional privacy laws and obligations is to review AHPRA’s Social Media Policy. Regulation is strict and your livelihood and reputation are at stake.
That is why at Tego Insurance we advise a few simple steps. For example, checking the background of a photo before sharing, or not discussing a scenario you witness at work involving a patient.
Tego Insurance Cares
If you are worried about how to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc) , we understand and are here to help. We can go over with you the medical indemnity insurance costs and other important issues.
We work hard to stay abreast of all the new communication tools available to health practitioners and their patients. It’s this caring that allows us to provide leading Insurance coverage that is innovative and flexible.
With the laws changing and the need to protect a patient’s private information becoming more and more difficult, it is essential that you understand what you can and can not do in regards to social media.
In Conclusion
The Tego Insurance team wants to help. If you would like specialised and current advice about your practice, please contact us! Tego Insurance offers a wide range of medical indemnity insurance from doctors indemnity insurance, medical professional indemnity insurance, GP medical indemnity insurance, entity medical malpractice Insurance and more. Contact us to find out more.
This publication is general in nature and is not comprehensive or constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal, medical or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practice proper clinical decision making with regard to individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgment or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Tego Insurance Pty Ltd is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information.