Social media – do’s and don’ts for medical practitioners

Social Media – Do’s and Don'ts for Medical Practitioners

Have you ever thought about how social media can highlight your credibility and reputation as a Medical Practitioner?

Are you interested in engaging in online communication with patients, colleagues and other potentially beneficial contacts for support, information, assistance and education? Or would you prefer a personal, online presence rather than a professional one? Whether you are considering using social media as a professional tool or for a personal pastime, there are many issues that need addressing prior to engaging in online communication. You can also read our article about 10 great ways to deal with negative online reviews.

Ethical and Legal Orientation

As a medical practitioner you are obliged to conduct professional and personal matters with an unfailing ethical and legal orientation. Being wary of your online presence (especially on social media) can help rather than hinder your credibility and reputation, no matter if it’s your professional and/or personal integrity at stake.

Below is a guideline of some of the ‘dos and dont’s – not only for medical practitioners but also medical students and trainees. AHPRA has a strict code of conduct for registered medical practitioners that must be adhered to without question. Every deviation whether online or not, will be assessed and if necessary, disciplinary action will be taken. Consistently, high standards of Duty of Care is paramount not only among patients but the community as a whole.

Being a medical practitioner comes with 24/7 professional standards and responsibilities that impact on personal life and wellbeing. Don’t be the next legal case that the media reports on or students use for studies. Using social media is widely acceptable and advantageous amid medical practitioners, if used with caution and appropriate resistant.

Dos

1. Set up boundaries and stick to them

Do engage in online communication, including on social media. No matter who you are communicating with (whether patient, colleague or public), making sure your boundaries are clear, will enable you to engage in a two-way beneficial, informative support and assistance outcome scenario with long term, career building rewards and contacts.

2. Know your privacy settings

Do post and share. Being aware that what you say and how you say it, may be shared and made public, should influence your content considerably. Being mindful of what you say and share whether comments, photos or videos, will help you to maintain a credible, professional reputation.

3. Think what is good for all of mankind and you

Do Duty of Care. Mankind is your ticket, so treat everyone with the humility and professionalism you would if they were your only patient, colleague, contact or friend. You can restore the high quality expectations everyone has of medical practitioners by simply looking after your own communication content. This will also be beneficial for building your patient base if you’re a GP. Remember you can be googled by your present and/or future employers, colleagues, as well as family, friends and the general public for any reason at all. And social media is one of the first places people will look for information about you.

Don’ts

1. Professional vs Private Accounts

Don’t be naïve and think your personal, online account is your freeway to let your guard down. It is just as important to display and encourage appropriate behaviour as with your professional account. To maintain acceptable standards as a registered medical practitioner, student or trainee this must always be your guiding factor for untainted life/work relationships and reputation.

2. Say it only if you want to share it

Don’t be fooled by the delete button. Once you have posted something on social media, that’s it. Someone may have read it or shared it before you realised the implications and deleted it. It is recommended by site administrators that if you do not want certain information shared, do not put it online, cyberspace has an uncanny ability to store data for a very long period of time.

3. Confidentiality vs Confessions

Don’t breach patient confidentiality, no matter how much you really want to impress or impart that particular information online. The implications are far more reaching and debilitating than you think, with negative consequences impacting on your personal integrity as well as your professional status.

Your Thoughts on Social Media

Are there any more ‘do’s and dont’s’ you would add? How are you currently using social media in your medical profession?

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