The use of smartphones and social media in healthcare has provided an ideal platform for healthcare professionals. This effective platform forms the basis of networking in the purview of exchanging ideas in regard to their professional development. It is important to note that social media is one of the greatest influential innovations in the 21st century. Nonetheless, globalization has further popularized social media platforms. This kind of communication in the world propels irrespective of political status, age, or financial status. It is with no doubt that the popularized social media platforms have raised numerous debates concerning ethical issues in healthcare.
Consequently, patient’s privacy, as well as confidentiality, is one the professional and ethical issues in the nursing profession when it comes to the use of smartphones. Basing on the above statement, it is clear that the use of social media ought to be within the legal provisions in order to ensure that healthcare professionals stick to their line of ethical conduct. This paper seeks to address the use of smartphones and social media in healthcare for the purposes of creating a conducive environment that advocates for the maintenance of ethical principles and code of conduct for healthcare providers (Lambard, Barry & Stockes, 2012). This paper further discusses the case scenario provided as per the HIPAA Act. It evaluates the ending scenario selected alongside the idea of exploring both the disadvantages and advantages of the use of social media and smartphones in healthcare.
HIPAA, Legal and Regulatory
Misuse of social media has adverse consequences on the patient’s safety. In this particular scenario provided, it is evident that once a patient’s safety is compromised, the nursing profession as a career is jeopardized. The nurse in the context fails to observe nursing ethics as required by the HIPAA. It is the duty of a nurse to receive the patient and handle him as per the ethical principles provided regardless of his social or economic status. The night shift goes ahead to undermine the aspect of the trust of the patient by taking a picture. It is so sad that the whole perspective does not stop taking a picture. The nurse stores such private information on her smartphone. Due to her recklessness, the information is accessed to as she leaves the same phone at her place of work. This tragedy is caused by the implication of failing to observe professionalism as well as overlooking the ethical principles that govern nursing as a career. At the end of the day, the patient’s right to privacy is abused (Peck, 2014). On the other hand, HIPAA enforces the patient’s right to privacy. In addition to this, the HIPAA’s responsibility is to ensure that the patient’s private information is protected from third party illegal access. This same organization has the authority to ensure that all the confidential information of healthcare organizations is effectively guarded against employees through proper mechanisms. In essence, it becomes easy to establish an individual who would have accessed confidential information through data evaluation.
Scenario Ending
The ending scenario identified is the fact that a gossip magazine is ready to offer $20000 for the pictures. The dilemma lies in the fact that there is a car to be purchased. To summarize the whole deal, the identity is bound to be hidden. Upon proper evaluation, it is clear that the media has the information that the patient was involved in the fatal accident and admitted to the hospital. The nurse identity is also known to the gossip magazine. It was not only wrong for the nurse to take pictures of the popular patient but also unethical too. Once information is posted on social media platforms, it is no longer private as the public has access to it. Such cases undermine nursing as a profession. An individual’s mistake ends up jeopardizing the service delivery of a healthcare organization. In most cases, patients work with a trusted perspective. Analyzing this respective issue, the patient would have trouble dealing with various bloggers as such information is distorted or rather exaggerated to suit gossip magazine’s interests. Social media sets the agenda of public opinion, given the fact that authors of the respective magazines will always make headlines on what will catch the attention of the public (Lambard, Barry & Stockes, 2012). The personal values ought to be a guiding principle on rejecting such a tempting offer. Besides, the professional code of ethics should never be undermined; hence the first step is to inform the media house of the implication of such an act. Second, the nurse should face disciplinary actions together with any other healthcare professional who uses the patient’s information for their own selfish interests.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Smartphones and Social Media in Healthcare
The use of smartphones and social media in healthcare has both advantages and disadvantages in healthcare. First, it is with no doubt that social media provides a platform for networking among healthcare professionals. Exchange of new ideas exacerbates new knowledge within an organization. Efficient and sufficient teamwork is likely to propel growth. It is the ideas put in practice that enhances growth. In essence, communication is made easier since information is bound to reach all employees within the health organization on time. Secondly, it cannot be disputed that the changing times escalates change in trends (Bernhardt, Albert, & Gold, 2014). Through social media, healthcare providers are able to establish new trends in the healthcare sector in order to push for quality. With globalization, various countries are bound to make suitable laws that govern the healthcare sector. In addition, adequate research easily emancipates with the new trends experienced worldwide. The use of smartphones and social media can easily jeopardize the nursing profession. In this case, the medical professionals are obliged to adhere to healthcare code of conduct for the purposes of observing the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Once information is out in the public domain, it ceases to be confidential. Important information is bound to be exposed through nurses’ recklessness or carelessness (Bernhardt, Albert, & Gold, 2014). The information leaking can also be out of the will. Second, social media can be very addictive and, in the long run, cause serious negligence on the side of the healthcare providers. Smartphones can be tempting in that its features such as recording, video taking, and the camera can give false ideas to nurses that they can store private information without being exposed.
In conclusion, it is clear that social media is regarded as one of the influential innovation experienced in the 21st century. Consequently, its use can easily jeopardize the nursing profession through the aspect of the abuse of a patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. With this perspective in mind, nurses are obliged to observe professionalism. Furthermore, principles of ethical codes of conduct ought to be adhered to for the purposes of ensuring that the patient’s trust is boosted. HIPAA should enforce a code of conduct by ensuring that all information within healthcare organizations are protected from third party illegal access.