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
    HIPPA compliance
    How Medical Office Staff Can Make Your Practice HIPAA Compliant
    October 29, 2021
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    February 10, 2022
    Which Mushroom Capsules Are Good for Your Health?
    May 5, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 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
    Clinical Trials
    Can You Participate in a Clinical Trial?
    April 28, 2022
    5 Things to Take Care of When You Go Into Hospital
    July 24, 2020
    Pharmacists help you
    How A Pharmacist Can Help You
    November 28, 2022
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How to Stay HIPAA Compliant When Using Social Media for Healthcare
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 Stay HIPAA Compliant When Using Social Media for Healthcare
Policy & LawSocial Media

How to Stay HIPAA Compliant When Using Social Media for Healthcare

GretchenKalthoff
GretchenKalthoff
Share
5 Min Read
doctor hipaa compliant on social media
SHARE

doctor hipaa compliant on social media

Contents
  • Healthcare Social Media Perks
  • Staying HIPAA Compliant
  • Tips for HIPAA Compliant Social Media

doctor hipaa compliant on social media

Regulations surrounding the use of social media within the healthcare industry can cause physicians to think that it’s a waste of time, however some providers are beginning to realize that there are actually enormous gains to be made from engaging in social media. Here, we look at how to make the most of social media within medical practice internet marketing while still ensuring HIPAA compliancy.

Healthcare Social Media Perks

Research data repeatedly indicates that patient outcomes improve when they are involved and engaged in their own healthcare. Social media acts as the conduit that enables the patient-doctor relationship to extend beyond the traditional face-to-face consultations. When physicians actively engage on social media, they have an additional opportunity to connect with patients and impact their daily choices. And it’s not just the young, tech-savvy generations that can be reached on social media; one of the fastest growing demographics engaging in social media is the 55-65 year age group.

More Read

mobile health app
Health Tap New Resource for Health Information
Noise Disrupts Circadian Rhythms and Causes Other Health Issues
4 Common Myths About Online & Social Media Health Content Debunked
Dental Care: Understanding Restorative Dentistry And Cosmetic Dentistry
Big Names Changing the Future of Personalized Patient Care

In addition, social media is an ideal platform to professionally connect with colleagues and industry peers. It is a great place to debate, express opinions, and share information and patient experiences. Often, these interactions contribute to improved health outcomes for patients. Blogging is also an effective marketing tool for doctors, as well as being a valuable source of information for patients who often consult blogs to learn more about a physician, procedure, medical practice, or hospital.

The diversity of social media platforms enables a new level of connection between the public, patients, and healthcare professionals.

However, while social media continues to grow in importance in medical practice internet marketing, the challenges associated for non-compliance with HIPAA rules and regulations continue to increase.

Staying HIPAA Compliant

The main compliance issue facing physicians is patient privacy. Physicians must be aware of both HIPAA and state laws with regards to the disclosure of patient’s protected health information (PHI) through social media. Even an inadvertent disclosure of PHI, including pictures, can result in fines and other penalties. To satisfactorily manage this, healthcare organizations must actively supervise the activities of any employees who have access to patient information and ensure that electronic medical records are complete, secure, and tamper-proof for record retention and audit purposes. Firms much also be prepared to capture, archive and have all electronic communications available on demand should a lawsuit require it.

Providing medical advice via social media should be treated with extreme caution due to licensing laws; if a patient is located in a state where the doctor is not licensed, the doctor risks liability under state licensing laws.

Yet in spite of the extensive regulations, social media is an important tool for physicians and healthcare organizations. It is fast becoming the main information source for patients and it is vital to actively engage and manage your brand’s reputation online.

Tips for HIPAA Compliant Social Media

Make sure you have the following in place before going full-steam ahead on social media:

  • Create a Social Media Working Group to discuss any concerns or issues. The group should include representative from various parts of the organization.
  • Ensure a thorough understanding of the patient privacy laws and how it pertains to your business.
  • Create an employee use policy for social media and clearly communicate it to all staff.
  • Educate and train staff on the use of social media, plus how not to use it with real life examples.
  • Create a content strategy with information that can easily be posted by staff to reduce the likelihood of breaches.
  • Develop processes with Legal and Compliance to approve content prior to being posted.
  • Monitor social media communications with technology controls that flag any words or phrases for review before posting.
  • Save and capture records that preserve the format of social communications, including edits and deletions.
  • Archive electronic records so that they can be found in accordance with federal and state recordkeeping rules.
  • Develop metrics to measure the effectiveness of social media programs.


This article was originally published on Medical Web Experts. 

TAGGED:HIPAA
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

social media success
Social Media

Social Media: 23 All-Time Tips and Techniques for Doctors

November 3, 2016
health data concerns
BusinessMedical RecordsPolicy & Law

Rewards Help Majority of Consumers Overcome Health Data Concerns

January 21, 2015

Is Eating Red Meat Bad For You?

March 14, 2012

College Health Insurance is About to Get a Lot More Expensive

June 5, 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?