Detailed Look at Inappropriate Social Media Posts by Nursing Home Workers

While the vast majority of staff who work in the nursing and healthcare industry truly care about their patients and are genuinely there to take care of them, there have been rising incidents of healthcare staff inappropriately sharing photos and videos of patients on social media sites.

ProPublica published a list of 47 recent events where Nursing Home or assisted living staff were found guilty of sharing patient information, videos, or photos on social media platforms. The staff range from licensed vocational nurses, contracted staff, youth volunteers, nursing home assistants, or home health aides.

Some of the cases are from staff who had posted pictures to social media and not intended harm, but still ultimately broke patient confidentiality, consent, or safety policies.

For example, the incident from February 2016 in Kokomo, IN “A nursing home employee was fired in May after posting a memorial photo on Facebook of a resident who had died. The photo, posted in February, showed the resident in a wheelchair, smiling, with the caption, “Fly away until another day soon, soon we will be on are (sic) way.” The photo was discovered by the facility’s administration in May, and while the employee had told a nursing home official that the family had given permission to take the photo, government inspectors were unable to verify this. In an improvement plan provided to the state, the facility indicated all employees would receive additional education on social media policy. The state cited the home for a breach of personal privacy, but the facility disagreed, telling the state that, “the resident identified was deceased at the time the photo was posted to social media so was not affected.” In a statement, the facility’s executive director, Ginny Byrket, said Kindred’s social media policy “strictly prohibits employees from taking photographs of patients without obtaining proper written permission.” She said her organization “takes its responsibility seriously and conducts regular training and reminders to ensure that the policy is clearly understood by individual employees.”

Or the incident from January 2013 in Watsonville, CA “A nursing assistant posted a picture of a resident's hand on Facebook, with a caption akin to "I am holding her hand til she falls asleep." A comment posted below the photo by a second nursing assistant had a question that included the resident's first name. Both employees were "counseled" for not maintaining confidentiality.”

Both incidents occurred where a staff member may not have meant intentional harm, but still violated confidentiality and consent policies.

Other incidents include downright cruel intentions, displaying patients who in terribly compromising positions.

For example, the incident from Fremont, MI “A nursing assistant was accused of taking a photo of a female resident with Alzheimer's disease on the toilet with her private parts exposed, drawing on a picture of male genitalia with the caption "limp d***" and sharing it on Snapchat. She was fired and pleaded no contest to a felony charge of using a computer to commit a crime but denied wrongdoing in an interview. The facility had written up the employee twice previously for use of her cell phone and social media at work. Officials at the home did not return calls and emails seeking comment.”

Or the incident from St. Charles, IL “One nursing home assistant recorded another using a nylon strap to lightly slap the face of a 97-year-old resident with dementia. The video was posted on Snapchat. On it, the resident could be heard crying out "Don't! Don't!" as the employees laughed. They were fired, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of battery and were sentenced to probation and community service. Ivy Gleeson, the nursing home administrator, told the Chicago Tribune in 2014 that the two women were fired. “In our facility, resident safety is our utmost concern,” Gleeson said. She did not return calls and emails from ProPublica seeking comment.”

The 47 incidents occur on Snapchat, Facebook, Facetime, and Instagram. The consequences of these violations run from being listed on Government Inspection Reports, termination of employment, to criminal charges. 

Regardless of the circumstances in the incidents, patient’s privacy, consent, and often personal dignity was not upheld. In a world where social media is present in most people’s daily lives the importance of separating social media and the healthcare workplace has never been more important.

To read the full ProPublica article, Click Here.