If you haven’t heard of Facebook by now, you’re doing something wrong. The social networking site is all over the news as their stock prices drop. But no matter how poorly or well Facebook does in the market, it has established itself in the hearts and minds of its users, and it’s here to stay. And as doctors utilize technology and mobile devices more and more in their practices, the question of how social media will affect medical professionals must be addressed.
A study done by the Journal of Medical Ethics may help shed some light on doctors’ Facebook practices. For the study, over 200 residents and fellows at the Rouen Hospital in France were surveyed about their social media presence. Approximately 73 percent of those surveyed had a Facebook account. And 49 percent of those using Facebook logged in almost every day. While it is interesting to note the prevalence of Facebook use among these postgraduate doctors-in-training, the most fascinating piece of data from this study addressed the interactions between doctors and patients on Facebook.
Of those surveyed, 6 percent had received friend requests from patients, meaning that 12 of the respondents were forced to confront the question of whether or not to become ‘friends’ with their patients. Ultimately, 4 of the residents and fellows accepted the patient’s friend request. Some of the reasons given for accepting the friend requests from patients included a feeling of affinity for the patient and the fear of embarrassing or losing the patient if they turned down the request. And as more doctors join Facebook and current users enter the ranks of the medical field, the ability of patients to seek out and ‘friend’ their doctor will grow. It is imperative that doctors consider the potential benefits and costs of friending their patients before they face this situation to prevent any unintentional breaches of privacy or professionalism.
The Cost of Facebook for Doctor-Patient Relationships![]( "young female doctor")
One of the big questions is whether or not friending patients on Facebook is ethically acceptable – it represents a relationship that is not directly related to patient care and thus is questionable. Indeed, one of the concerns for the doctors who turned down friend requests was that the friend request was sent with romantic intention. While it is difficult to determine a patient’s intentions, it is best to err on the side of caution.
Putting aside the question of ethics, there are other concerns with considering becoming Facebook friends with a patient. Many Facebook users have an inaccurate picture of how protected their personal comments and pictures are on the social networking site. And thanks to the rapid dissemination of information, the longevity of data on the internet and downloading, even a small mistake could have costly long-term effects. In 2010 several doctors posted photos of themselves drinking and holding guns while on a humanitarian mission to Puerto Rico. Their colleagues defended the quality of their work but the existence of the photos was incredibly damaging to their careers. The best advice is to be careful before you post a comment or picture, and to NEVER post a photo or comment about a patient.
[Also Read Our Article on Physicians and EHRs: The Real Story]
Even if your Facebook profile is a model of clean living, by friending a patient the professional barriers between physician and patient are broken down. One of the best options to help prevent this is to have two Facebook profiles – one personal, one professional. By creating a ‘fan’ page, doctors can take advantage of the benefits of connecting to their patients on social media without the risk of over-sharing or degrading professional relationships. And doctors should learn how to adjust their privacy settings, which can be accessed through the drop down menu next to the Home button (on the top right of the page). Facebook recently updated their privacy policy, so even if you feel confident that your page is well protected, it would be worth examining the new privacy options. With all these concerns does Facebook have anything to offer the doctor-patient relationship?
The Benefits of Forming Facebook Relationships
with Patients![]( "tablet pc")
Most businesses have found by now that Facebook is a great way to engage audiences and attract customers, and the same is true for medical professionals. Having a social media presence can improve doctor-patient communication, and is a good way to drive patient traffic to your practice. In particular, the creation and customization of a fan page can transform Facebook into a source of valuable healthcare information for patients or even a scheduling tool for appointments.
In our Web 2.0 world, social media is not to be taken lightly. It is a powerful tool for connecting with customers and patients, and a great way to share information. But doctors should use caution in how they connect with their patients – linking with them on your personal Facebook account can have serious consequences on your relationship and your practice. And it is especially important for younger doctors with a more established online presence to think about their Facebook presence. Social media is a great tool for keeping in touch with friends and sharing your life, but it also opens you up to potential pitfalls – no matter how private your Facebook profile is set, there is always some degree of risk associated with posting personal information or photos on the internet.
