By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    4 Reasons Why Medical Device Compliance Matters
    May 22, 2020
    What To Know About The Importance Of Healthcare Marketing
    November 23, 2019
    healthcare courses
    6 Supplemental Courses in Healthcare to Support Your HR Degree
    August 20, 2021
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How to engage your patients on social media – without violating HIPAA!
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > How to engage your patients on social media – without violating HIPAA!
Policy & LawSocial Media

How to engage your patients on social media – without violating HIPAA!

practicebuilders1
Last updated: September 20, 2017 10:47 pm
practicebuilders1
Share
4 Min Read
How to engage your patients on social media – without violating HIPAA!
SHARE

No business can afford to go without a social media presence in today’s competitive market, and your healthcare practice is no exception. But unlike the local movie theater or candy store, your healthcare practice has a big hurdle to jump when using this powerful marketing tool: HIPAA compliance.

What is HIPAA, and what does it have to do with social media?

Title II of HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, focuses especially on the privacy of patients’ protected health information. Most importantly, it establishes civil and criminal penalties for disclosing that information. “Civil and criminal penalties” is not a phrase you usually associate with social media, the home of funny cat videos and political arguments with your uncle. But any words or pictures you post that might identify a patient could set you up for a big hit to your finances and reputation. The good news is that with a few simple steps, you can be HIPAA-compliant and create vibrant social media marketing that grows your business:

  • 1. Don’t cross the streams. Before you do anything else, separate your personal social media profiles from your professional profiles. Adjust your personal privacy settings so that only friends can see your posts. Only friend your patients on your professional pages. Clear boundaries make for easier compliance.
  • 2. Don’t talk about patients. Of course, you shouldn’t post that “Steve Q. presented with a thyroid disorder.” But you also shouldn’t post “A 46-year-old man presented with a thyroid disorder,” or even “A patient presented with a thyroid disorder.” Talk about the disorder itself, in general terms: What is it, what causes it, and how do you treat it?
  • 3. The waiting-room rule. If you wouldn’t say it out loud in your waiting room, don’t post it on social media. Our brains didn’t evolve with the Internet in mind, so we sometimes write things online that we’d never say in real life.
  • 4. Train, train again. Make sure that you communicate clear social media standards to every last employee – exactly what they can and cannot post on their personal and professional social media pages. This goes double for the people who administer your social media accounts; they should have both good social media marketing practices and HIPAA issues down cold.
  • 5. Social media is social. Remember that it’s called social media because other people are involved. That means you may have to watch out for your patients posting words or pictures on your pages that inadvertently identify other patients. If you find such a post, immediately contact the poster and gently explain the legal issues involved.

With these simple strategies, you can reap the huge benefits of social media marketing while remaining in compliance with HIPAA. You, your business and your patients will all be better-served! For more information on social media marketing for doctors please contact Practice Builders (800)679-1200.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

healthcare software development
Technology

The Process of Developing Multifunctional Software in Healthcare

October 3, 2023

Chronic Illness Prevention and Treatment: Vaccines

November 4, 2011

Pharmacy Trends | Top 5 Pharmacy Trends for 2016

January 15, 2016

Patient Responsibility – What to do if they Won’t Take Any?

April 12, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?