Five tips for the online healthcare professional
Many years ago, I used to hear a saying that “the news of today is lining the wastepaper baskets of tomorrow.” This literally meant that what people were talking about in the newspapers today would be lining the trashcan the next day.
But that is not so today which is an age of digital content and social conversations where news from ten years ago is available online and searchable within a few clicks. And the “news” is not coming from newspapers anymore, either. With Facebook, Twitter, and thousands of other sites and blogs, we make our own news, sometimes with a detrimental personal effect.
This is where prudence comes into play for the savvy healthcare professional, who will want to watch with care what is posted about him or her online. Your digital footprint is something you should monitor regularly and protect. This is not only to guard your reputation, but also to take the safety precautions. Here are a few guidelines to get you started.
1. Don’t post information, stories or pictures relating to or about your patients without their express, written consent. Not only could you be violating trust, you could be violating the law and putting your job at risk.
2. Be professional in your public posts. No bad-mouthing, discriminating or offensive rants. Just ask yourself, “Would I want my employer and patients to read this?”
