Developed 2/18/14
Revised 2/18/14
Employee Social Networking
Social Networking
statement oF PURPOSE
To outline expectations and provide guidance to the employees and affiliates of Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) regarding social media practices both during and after work hours.
statement oF POLICY
JRMC understands that its employees may enjoy posting content on various social networking sites. It is the expectation of JRMC that employees will not post confidential patient information, will not post information that may be damaging to the reputation of JRMC, will not post confidential or proprietary business information, and will not post information that may be construed as threatening or harassing to a visitor, another employee, a manager or an affiliate of JRMC.
PROCEDURE
A. Definitions:
a. Harassment: Harassment is intentional behavior that is found to be threatening or disturbing
b. Social Networking: Social networking, for the purpose of this policy, includes, but is not limited to, blogs, discussion forums, email, social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace), social media sites (e.g., YouTube) and picture sites (e.g., Flickr, Snapfish, Instagram)
B. Standards:
a. Employees posting on JRMC-hosted sites are expected to adhere to compliance policies and JRMC’s Employee Social Networking policy. Rules that apply to internal communications also apply to external communications.
b. Employees are prohibited from utilizing social networking sites for personal reasons during work hours, unless on break.
c. Patient confidentiality must be protected; therefore, confidential patient information or pictures shall not be posted on social networking sites, unless consent has been received.
d. Refrain from posting JRMC’s logo for personal use on social networking, social media or other websites.
e. No part of JRMC’s documents and other proprietary materials shall be posted or distributed on social networking
f. Information that may damage the reputation of JRMC shall not be posted on social networking, social media or other personal websites. Information that is posted may never be totally deleted and may be indexed and or linked to other social networking sites and/or by bloggers. Employees are personally responsible for information posted on personal and public blogging sites.
g. Employees are expected to be respectful to other employees, managers and affiliates of JRMC at all times. Information that may damage the reputation of these individuals shall not be posted on social networking, social media or other personal websites.
h. Threatening or harassing behavior will not be tolerated and shall not be conveyed through social networking, social media or other personal websites. Threatening or harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to:
i. Name calling
ii. Posting embarrassing information
iii. Sexual innuendos
iv. Threats to inflict physical harm
v. Derogatory remarks
i. Instances of inappropriate use of social media (e.g., breach of confidentiality, unprofessional conduct, unethical conduct, mismanagement of patient records, revealing a privileged communication) may be reported to state licensing boards for disciplinary action. Employees are required to review this policy and sign the Employee Acknowledgement form on an annual basis.
C. Disciplinary Action
a. Any violation of this policy will be taken seriously and will be managed according to existing human resources policies and procedures. Employees may be subject to discipolinary action, including termination.
b. An individual violating this policy may also be subject to criminal or civil liability based upon breach of confidentiality, defamation/libel, harassment, creating a hostile work environment and/or other legal theories.
JRMC takes this issue very seriously and strongly discourages employees from posting confidential, damaging, threatening or harassing information on social networking sites.