How to prevent employees from misusing social media

The emerging threat to people living in nursing homes requires greater attention and action by healthcare providers. This involves care workers taking photos and videos of residents – often depicting degrading and offensive situations – and posting them on social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and FaceTime.

Examples of photos and videos posted by nursing home staff on social media include the following scenarios: Tickling the nose of a resident with Alzheimer’s disease while sleeping; holding a patient with dementia and giving her “wet villas” (a finger with saliva in the ear); a legally blind resident shown naked with a bowel movement; ridiculing and ridiculing a resident with dementia; making fun of a resident suffering from dementia using a doll; and swearing at locals, as well as many other scenarios.

Inappropriate use of social media by staff in care homes includes: regarding AND underrated problem. In 2016 The American Health Care Association awarded tNursing home companies are “all scrambling” to solve the problem. But unfortunately, these violations do rarely were examined in a structured way.

To take the first steps toward filling this knowledge gap, I recently analyzed 100 state investigative reports from nursing homes in 31 states (de-identified investigative results were accessed through ProPublica Nursing home inspection website).

Initial findings revealed disturbing evidence of privacy violations and harassment of 152 residents. More than 85% of victims had some degree of cognitive impairment (at least 50 residents had moderate to severe cognitive impairment). Employees took and shared on various social media platforms photos and videos of residents (without their consent) containing degrading, humiliating and offensive content.

In response to my bill, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who last year introduced federal legislation to protect children online, he said that elders also need protection.

“People living in long-term care facilities have the right to be treated with care, respect and dignity,” he said, calling on social media platforms to take action and protect older people. “This study is deeply disturbing and shows how often on social media, patient privacy is sacrificed in favor of a cruel joke. I urge these platforms to remain vigilant about this content and remove it immediately to protect care home residents who cannot consent or defend themselves.”

So what can nursing homes do to protect their residents and, ultimately, themselves? Here are ten suggestions:

1. Raise awareness among employees and managers about this form of invasion and abuse of privacy (educational programs to raise awareness of this issue are urgently needed). Make sure all staff are aware of the potentially devastating consequences of these incidents for residents (e.g. “humiliated”, “caused her increased anxiety and depression”, one resident “began crying and stated she was embarrassed and concerned”, which others had seen the photo on the Internet) and their families (one brother was “very upset that something like this happened”).

Healthcare professionals/mandatory reporters who become aware of privacy breaches and abuses of residents using social media must report it in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Immediate and thorough investigation and reporting (internal and external) of suspicious incidents is crucial, as is the immediate suspension of alleged perpetrators pending the results of the investigation.

2. Some employees are unaware of it after posting photos or videos on the social media platform — thinking they would automatically they disappear after a specified period of time – the recipient has already taken a screenshot or photo with another device, and the content now has a life of its own.

The same applies to staff actively deleting a video after posting it on social media. A deleted photo or video may still be on the server and be found by a court. In one case, a CNA made a FaceTime (video) call to an acquaintance while using violence against a resident with severe cognitive impairments. The friend recorded the conversation and sent a text message to the administrator.

For other myths and misconceptions about using social media, see this article Nurse’s Guide.

3. Most of the degrading and offensive photos and videos identified in my project have been published on the website Snapchat. This knowledge can help in targeted prevention and detection of such posts on this social media platform.

4. Nursing homes must ensure that all staff follow telephone use policies and procedures (and other electronic devices) and the use of social media with zero tolerance for these activities (expectations should be communicated to new employees during induction training and on-the-job training). Staff should know that in some cases they may be exposed criminal fees.

Although some nursing homes do not allow employees to use phones during work shifts (devices must be locked in the staff room) except for staff meals and rest breaks, the reality in many nursing homes has changed. Anecdotal reports indicate that phones are now increasingly used by direct care workers during work shifts. A review of policies is therefore warranted.

5. Most of the victims of my project had some degree of cognitive impairment; this is undoubtedly a high-risk population that requires greater attention and protection. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services”The concept of a reasonable person” should be used in situations where the victim is unable to cognitively verbalize the psychosocial impact of these violations.

One resident’s power of attorney stated that the person “would be devastated if they knew about this photo.” The family of another resident said their relative would be “terrified, just devastated… just sickened” if he found out the video had been posted online.

6. These violations are not only a matter of abuse, but a clear violation of residents’ rights to privacy, confidentiality and dignity. So, in addition to educating staff about harassment, educating staff about residents’ rights should also include this issue.

For example, taking a photo of a group of residents celebrating Christmas and posting it on the care home’s Facebook page – without their consent – violated their privacy. The administrator said this was a violation of nursing home policy.

7. Employees must know without the informed consent of the resident or his or her legally authorized representatives (where applicable) they are not allowed to take photos, videos or audio recordings of residents, let alone post them on social media.

Additionally, staff taking unauthorized photos or videos of a resident’s private space – e.g., their bedroom or furniture – even in the resident’s absence – is considered by CMS to be a violation of the individual’s rights to privacy and confidentiality.

8. Social media platforms like Snapchat need to be held accountable for not doing enough to address this problem. This includes reinforcement guidelinesdeterrence, monitoring, development of more effective early detection mechanisms (such as the use of the power of artificial intelligence), and immediate removal of offensive/degrading content. It is necessary to immediately refer the case to law enforcement authorities, e.g. when photos and videos show mental, physical and sexual abuse of residents.

9. Raise awareness of this issue among visitors (family members and friends) as well as residents. This is much less common, but it is not uncommon for residents and family members to take photos and videos of other residents or staff members and post them on social media platforms without informed consent.

10. Agencies such as long-term care ombudsman programs, nurse harassment registries, boards of nursing, CMS and state research agencies, law enforcement agencies, and state attorneys general offices should pay greater attention to this issue. See CMS Note 2016 in photos and audio/video recordings taken by nursing home staff.

In addition to the regulatory ramifications, nursing homes could face lawsuits. In one case, workers abused a 91-year-old resident with dementia, videotaping it and posting it on social media. Family civil lawsuit He demanded $1 million in damages.

I hope that my project will encourage administrators to do the same educate employees and managers on this topic, use and develop on the existing ones guidelinesand proactively putting in place measures to prevent, prevent and respond to this problem. Beyond compliance with professional standards and regulations, it is a matter of trust that underpins dignified care.

Dr. Eilon Caspi is a gerontologist and behavioral dementia specialist. He is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and a member of the journal’s editorial board Journal of Applied Gerontologyand also Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. He is the founder and board member of Elder Voice Advocates and the owner and director of Dementia Behavior Consulting LLC.

Opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s own and do not necessarily originate from McKnight’s Long Term Care News or its editors.

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