can a caregiver report on facebook about a nursing home patient

HIPAA is another law to consider when posting anything, including a picture, on Facebook, that is personal health information. Without the patient’s informed consent, a violation clearly occurs. Last, but by no means least, violations of the Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA 2001) cannot be ignored.

Full Answer

Can I post a picture of a nursing home resident on Facebook?

So, the only way one could post a picture of a nursing home resident on Facebook (your page, it is assumed) is with the resident’s informed consent to do so provided no prohibition exists in your facility’s policies about such a posting. Your facility should have a policy about social media and patient privacy.

Is it legal to post a picture of a patient on Facebook?

HIPAA is another law to consider when posting anything, including a picture, on Facebook, that is personal health information. Without the patient’s informed consent, a violation clearly occurs.

What are the rules for visitors to a nursing home facility?

Facilities may require advance scheduling, set time and visitor limits, require temperature checks and other health screening of visitors, and enforce rules on masking and physical distancing Federal guidelines do not require nursing home visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, although the CMS encourages them to be.

How do I file a complaint against a nursing home?

AARP has a directory where you can find contact information and a website link for your state ombudsman. If an issue persists, you can file a complaint with your state survey agency, which inspects nursing homes to determine if they're complying with CMS regulations.

What are the 3 most common complaints about nursing homes?

What Are the Three Most Common Complaints About Nursing Homes?Slow Response Times. By far, the most common complaint in many nursing homes is that staff members are slow to respond to the needs of residents. ... Poor Quality Food. ... Social Isolation. ... When Complaints Turn into a Dangerous Situation.

What can nurses post on social media?

Nurses must not share, post or otherwise disseminate any information or images about a patient or information gained in the nurse/patient relationship with anyone unless there is a patient care-related need to disclose the information or other legal obligations to do so.

How does social media affect nursing?

Negative Ways Nurses Use Social Media As noted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), breach of trust can irrevocably damage relationships between patients and their caregivers, not to mention negatively impacting the public view of the nursing profession's trustworthiness. Sharing information.

Is taking a picture of a patient a HIPAA violation?

Yes! Pictures that show any individually identifiable information is considered PHI. The 18 Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) individually identifiable elements are listed below. If a photograph can be connected to a patient, it's considered PHI, which falls under the HIPAA privacy rule.

What should nurses not do on social media?

In terms of social media, that means nurses cannot post patient identifiable information....Don't:Post patient stories. ... Indiscriminately post from your workplace. ... Connect with patients or their family members online. ... Complain about your employer. ... Post anything that can shame the nursing profession.

How personal conduct can violate Hipaa or be considered unethical or unprofessional?

Personal confidentiality can violate HIPPA or considered unethical or unprofessional if it breaches patient privacy or confidentiality. The disclosure of confidential health data, either intentional or unintentional, is a breach of HIPPA guidelines.

What happens when a nurse breaches patient confidentiality?

Either could also cause a lawsuit against you and your facility. Your facility may not have your back and often cases against the facility are dropped citing the nurse knew what s/he was doing was wrong. Depending on the severity, you could even face suspension or loss of your license.

What are some of the barriers to applying social media to healthcare issues and activities?

In spite of the advantages, users of social media encounter many challenges such as lack of reliability; lack of privacy and confidentiality; users' and patients' ignorance of potential risks of health information disclosure; inaccurate medical advices; adverse health consequences; negative health behaviors and ...

Can you post a nursing home on Facebook?

So, the only way one could post a picture of a nursing home resident on Facebook (your page, it is assumed) is with the resident’s informed consent to do so provided no prohibition exists in your facility’s policies about such a posting. Your facility should have a policy about social media and patient privacy.

Is Facebook a violation of HIPAA?

HIPAA is another law to consider when posting anything, including a picture, on Facebook, that is personal health information. Without the patient’s informed consent, a violation clearly occurs. Last, but by no means least, violations of the Code of Ethics for Nurses ( ANA 2001) cannot be ignored.

What does it mean if a post is public?

If there’s someone you can think of who shouldn’t see your post, don’t put it on Facebook! This is why we encourage caregivers to vent and share personal experiences in our caregiver forums or our caregiver Facebook group.

Is this post public or private?

When you look at a post, there’s a little icon next to the date and time. If you see a globe icon, the post is public:

Controlling what shows up in your newsfeed

If you ‘like’ a page on Facebook, you can still choose whether or not you want to see posts from that page in your newsfeed. If you’re ‘following’ a page, you’ll see posts from that page in your newsfeed. If you aren’t following (like in the example below), you won’t see posts from that page in your newsfeed.

Why are they ignoring my message?

You meet someone on a Facebook page who is in the same situation as you and take the time to write them a thoughtful message. And then they never respond. What happened?

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How to complain about nursing home?

Some complaints have relatively straightforward solutions. Three common ones are: 1 Roommate conflicts. Most nursing homes will try to accommodate room changes when problems between roommates can't be resolved, so a simple request should do the trick. Keep in mind, though, that unless the nursing home has private rooms, and you can afford one, dealing with a period of adjustment is normal. 2 Food issues. Nursing home food may never measure up to Mom's standards, particularly if she is used to ethnic foods or has particular preferences. Many older people lose some sense of taste, so even well-prepared food just doesn't taste right to them. Keep an eye out for signs of malnutrition. Ask the nursing home staff whether you can bring your mom's favorite foods when you visit. Make sure you don't bring foods that are banned from her special diet or that may cause choking. Try to visit at mealtimes; Mom may not miss the food as much as the family eating together. 3 Lost items. Make sure you have insurance that covers loss; hearing aids, eyeglasses, dentures and other devices do get easily lost. Your mother may insist that they have been stolen, but it is more likely that they got bundled up with the sheets and sent to the laundry.

What to do if you are not satisfied with the nursing home ombudsman?

If you are not satisfied with their responses, call the nursing home ombudsman in your area. Ombudsmen are trained to resolve problems in quality of care, as well as suggest ways to manage other non-life-threatening issues.

Why is being present important for mom?

Being present not only is a way to help Mom stay engaged, but also is essential for monitoring her care, leading us to the next rule. 4.

What are the common problems in nursing homes?

Three common ones are: Roommate conflicts. Most nursing homes will try to accommodate room changes when problems between roommates can't be resolved, so a simple request should do the trick. Keep in mind, though, that unless the nursing home has private rooms, and you can afford one, dealing with a period of adjustment is normal. Food issues.

How to help your family member understand the aide?

Get to know the aides as individuals and help them understand your loved one's quirks, habits and preferences. Be appreciative of the hard job they do. You can also help your family member better understand the aide, who may speak with an accent or have other unfamiliar characteristics. 3.

How to help a resident with boredom?

Offer your own or others' talents — music, arts, storytelling, computer instruction — to the residents. Try to visit as often as possible and at different times of day and evening. Make yourself a familiar and welcome presence. If you are a part of the community, your family member may be more likely to participate in activities, which wards off another common resident complaint: boredom.

What are some examples of family problems?

Many common examples are apparent, such as bedsores, neglect of personal hygiene, weight loss and lack of attention to an illness or obvious deterioration.

Who is responsible for the well being of a patient in a nursing home?

In a traditional nursing home environment a patient will interact with many trained caregivers who are responsible for the patient’s well-being. These can include nursing staff, maintenance staff, other residents, and visitors. Any of these people have the opportunity to cause harm or abuse to a patient, and if they do, then they can be held accountable.

What does a nursing home provide?

Nursing homes provide shelter, food, medical care, and hygiene to the patients and residents of the facility. They must maintain the level of care specified under the provisions of the Reform Act, and if the patient is injured or harmed in any way the nursing home can be found negligent.

Can a nursing home be sued?

If there is an instance where a resident of a nursing home is abused or injured, both the nursing home and the individual caregiver responsible for the resident can be sued. At the Law Offices of Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. we are prepared with the knowledge and experience with nursing home litigation to assist you in your claim. Contact us at Cochranlaw.com, or call us at 1-866-MICH-LAW (1-866-642-4529) for a free consultation. We never charge a fee unless we win your case.

What happens if you don't respond to Facebook?

If you don’t respond in a timely manner, you may appear disingenuous and it could damage your brand. When you use Facebook to recruit senior caregivers, you’re meeting them where they’re at and you’re introducing your brand at the same time.

Why are people drawn to Facebook?

People are drawn to Facebook, in part, because they enjoy how interactive it is. That makes Facebook a huge resource for hiring and recruitment for home health care staff.

How long has Facebook been online?

In fact, if you’re in the market to do some hiring, you’re bound to find your next employee on Facebook. Here’s why—Facebook has been online for 16 years and they had almost 1.7 billion active daily users by the end of 2019.

Is social media good for senior caregivers?

When you put the right content on social media and properly optimize it, it can be a real asset for recruiting senior caregivers. Remember that there are thousands of people looking for jobs on Facebook, so it pays to engage with them in on a platform that they love and already have a comfort level with.

How many nursing homes are cited for infection prevention?

A May 2020 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that 4 in 5 nursing homes surveyed between 2013 and 2017 were cited for deficiencies in infection prevention and control, leading the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to announce tougher rules for infection-control inspections and enforcement.

What are the factors that make nursing homes potential breeding grounds for viral and bacterial diseases?

shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gowns. low vaccination rates among staff. These factors make nursing homes potential breeding grounds for viral and bacterial diseases, especially given chronic problems with infection control that predate the pandemic.

What does a state survey agency do for nursing homes?

State survey agencies conduct inspections of nursing homes on behalf of the CMS to check that they're complying with federal laws and standards in areas such as staffing, hygiene, record keeping, and residents’ care and supervision.

Why is socialization important in nursing homes?

Socialization is crucial for residents’ well-being — physically and emotionally — particularly after more than a year of the pandemic. Isolation “can have very real and serious health impacts ” for nursing home residents, says Megan O'Reilly, AARP's vice president of health and family.

Can you arrange a compassionate care visit?

If your loved one needs help with daily activities such as eating and grooming, or is showing signs of physical decline or emotional distress from extended isolation, you may be able to arrange longer or more frequent “compassionate care” or “essential caregiver” visits, even if the facility is in outbreak status.

Who can be notified of changes in your condition?

have a doctor, family member or legal representative notified of changes in your condition or treatment. Keep in mind that state statutes on resident rights often go beyond federal rights. But rights related to visitation and activities are being restricted as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Can you unmask someone in a nursing home?

Also, once you or your loved one in a nursing home is fully vaccinated, fewer restrictions may apply. For example, you both can unmask in certain settings. In facilities that are able to loosen visitation restrictions, use these newfound liberties to engage and connect with your loved one in a safe way.