Social Networks and Medicine
The Riverbend Hospital, a hospital located in a rural area of the state, recently purchased laptops for all employees of the hospital system, as well as emergency responders. The goal of the purchase was to streamline medical treatment and information in real time so that patients could receive more timely care. The program has been in place for just over three months with most of the employees feeling that the new system has been a real time-saver. However, recent leak of patient information has put the program in jeopardy.
Because the laptops are provided with Internet access, many of the hospital’s employees have been using them for personal web browsing, social network updating, etc. Ambulance crews have been uploading photos from crash sites, shooting, etc. , so that physicians and nurses can be made aware of the mechanism of injury and such. However, an employee in the system recently posted some of those photos to a social network site that many members of the local community share, and it has brought to light an abusive relationship that is taking place in the small community. The photos clearly show the patient and most, if not all, citizens in the small community know her. Furthermore, other providers have started to post comments about her treatment, follow-up care, and other medical conditions. The female patient is currently seeking legal advice and the future of the hospital’s new computer system has been compromised.
Answer the following discussion question:
You are the director of the electronic record delivery program and want to see the program continue. However, given the above circumstances, what Act must you rely on to guide you in the process?
Buchbinder, Sharon, N. Shanks, and D. Buchbinder (2014). Cases in Health Care Management, Burlington, MA. Jones and Barlett.
