AMA releases policy on physicians and Social Media

Did you read the press release from AMA?  They have established a policy for physicians on social media.

Here are some of the main points this new policy focuses on-

• Use privacy settings to safeguard personal information and content to the fullest extent possible on social networking sites.
• Routinely monitor their own Internet presence to ensure that the personal and professional information on their own sites and content posted about them by others, is accurate and appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries of the patient-physician relationship when interacting with patients online and ensure patient privacy and confidentiality is maintained.
• Consider separating personal and professional content online.
• Recognize that actions online and content posted can negatively affect their reputations among patients and colleagues, and may even have consequences for their medical careers

(information taken from AMA press release.)

How does this effect you, as a physician?    Really, not at all. This policy is a great reminder that physicians need to protect their private lives, keep them separate from their public lives. It also reminds us of the privacy policies created for our patients, and how you should continue to protect them.

Does it make participating in social media more difficult?  Not really. You should have been following this guidelines, on your own, anyway.  

Should I participate in social media, as a physician?  Definitely!  The world is on the computer, looking for your practice. The best way to find you is with an optimized website, regular blogs, and participation in social media such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  If you are hiding in your office, the world will still post comments about you on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin (and hundreds of other sites) but if you are actively participating along with them, you can see what's being said about you and respond to it.

Social media is here- join it.