What is an example of one of the most common social media HIPAA violations?

Don’t Disclose PHI

Disclosing PHI is one of the biggest HIPAA violations associated with social media and in general. It doesn’t matter if you use Facebook or Instagram or if you have a private or public account. Social media is a place to be social, not to talk about patients.

What social media is not HIPAA compliant?

HIPAA was enacted several years before social media networks such as Facebook and Instagram were launched, so there are no specific HIPAA social media rules.

What are examples of HIPAA violations?

Most Common HIPAA Violation Examples
  • 1) Lack of Encryption. …
  • 2) Getting Hacked OR Phished. …
  • 3) Unauthorized Access. …
  • 4) Loss or Theft of Devices. …
  • 5) Sharing Information. …
  • 6) Disposal of PHI. …
  • 7) Accessing PHI from Unsecured Location.

What are the 4 most common HIPAA violations?

5 Most Common HIPAA Violations
  • The 5 Most Common HIPAA Violations.
  • HIPAA Violation 1: A Non-Encrypted Lost or Stolen Device. …
  • HIPAA Violation 2: Lack of Employment Training. …
  • HIPAA Violation 3: Database Breaches. …
  • HIPAA Violation 4: Gossiping and Sharing PHI. …
  • HIPAA Violation 5: Improper disposal of PHI.

What can you share without violating HIPAA?

Under HIPAA, your health care provider may share your information face-to-face, over the phone, or in writing. A health care provider or health plan may share relevant information if: You give your provider or plan permission to share the information. You are present and do not object to sharing the information.

What information can be shared without violating HIPAA?

Health information such as diagnoses, treatment information, medical test results, and prescription information are considered protected health information under HIPAA, as are national identification numbers and demographic information such as birth dates, gender, ethnicity, and contact and emergency contact …

Is gossiping a HIPAA violation?

Similarly, if the subject of the gossip is not a patient who has rights under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the gossip is not a violation of HIPAA; and, even if the individual is an employee of a Covered Entity and the gossip relates to a patient in their care, gossip is not a violation of HIPAA if none of the 18 identifiers …

What are the five most common violations to HIPAA privacy Rule?

5 Most Common HIPAA Privacy Violations
  • Losing Devices. …
  • Getting Hacked. …
  • Employees Dishonestly Accessing Files. …
  • Improper Filing and Disposing of Documents. …
  • Releasing Patient Information After the Authorization Period Expires.

Can you sue for HIPAA violation?

While you cannot sue for a HIPAA violation, HIPAA can be used in lawsuits to establish a duty in negligence claims. There will likely be many other people who find themselves in the same situation, some of whom may have already begun legal action. Joining an existing class action lawsuit could be an option for you.

Is Facebook HIPAA compliant?

What’s the verdict? Facebook Messenger™ fails to meet all four HIPAA requirements and is not considered a HIPAA compliant telemedicine platform. In order to implement a HIPAA compliant telemedicine platform patients should also be required to complete necessary patient consent forms and agreements.

Does HIPAA apply to social media?

The posting of any PHI, without patient authorization, on social media may constitute a HIPAA violation. This includes any text, image, video, or other media identifying the individual as a patient of the practice as well as any media in which patients of a practice or PHI are visible.

Is it against HIPAA to Google a patient?

Option B: Don’t Google the patient; it’s a violation of HIPAA. This is often used to mechanistically intimidate practitioners into not Googling, although the psychiatrist is technically not “exchanging information” in that he is not disclosing any protected health information about the patient.

Does it violate HIPAA to Google a patient?

Googling your patients does not violate HIPAA. You are acting as an observer of information rather than posting a patient’s information online yourself. Regardless of the fact that doing some online research into your patients’ pasts isn’t technically illegal, it still should not be taken lightly.

What should you not post on social media healthcare?

Posting the name of a current or former patient, sharing photos, or giving out private information regarding a patient’s medical records are just a few examples of common HIPAA social media violations.

Is it illegal to look up patients on social media?

The legalities

The information a physician would find through a simple Google search or scan of the patient’s social media accounts is not confidential; to the contrary, it is publicly available for anyone to see. Thus, there is no issue regarding a breach of confidentiality.

Is taking a picture a HIPAA violation?

Taking pictures of patients without consent is unacceptable. This includes patient images or other individually identifiable health information that may be in the background of a photo. Similar to HIPAA photo violations, organizations can also be penalized for video violations.

What should nurses not post to Facebook and why?

Nurses must not share, post or otherwise disseminate any information or images about a patient or information gained in the nurse/patient relationship with anyone unless there is a patient care-related need to disclose the information or other legal obligations to do so.

Is saying a patient name a HIPAA violation?

It is not a HIPAA violation to email patient names per se, although patient names and other PHI should not be included in the subject lines of emails as the information could easily be viewed by unauthorized individuals.

Can you talk about a patient without saying their name?

One rule for health care professionals’ online lives is obvious: “Don’t disclose patient information ever,” said McAllister. Don’t disclose, name, weight, height, eye color — any patient information that allows your reader to discern the identity of the patient you are discussing.

What is appropriate to share on social media as a nurse?

These rules nurses should use while utilizing social media include include: Nurses should talk about themselves, the nursing profession, their family, hobbies, and interest. Never talk about patients or identifiable coworkers. Avoid identifying your employer on your social media profiles.

What nurses should not do on social media?

Avoid posting photos or videos of patients or their personal information (even with a patient’s verbal consent). Do not share any identifying information including details such as room number, physical descriptors, health conditions, age, and residence, even if you don’t mention the patient’s name.