Texas Nurse Fired for Social Media HIPAA Violation Posted By HIPAA Journal on Sep 13, 2018 A nurse at a Texas children's hospital has been fired for violating Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules by posting protected health information on a social media website. Where the HIPAA violation represents gross misconduct with serious consequences for either a patient or an employer, a nurse could also be reported to their licensing board; while a criminal violation (under 1177 of the Social Security Act) will likely be referred to law enforcement. She was swimming in muddy waters. Where new information has been made available, I have provided updates and clarification. Reality TV is never quite reality, and this social media slip might have been a clever move planned by NY Med for major media and nursing coverage, or by Katie herself to further her growing fame. After Faith Linthicum, RN posted that an unarmed black man shot by police "deserved it," Kaiser Permanente decided to part ways with the nurse. Samuels had worked for the Miami-based Jackson Health System since 2016, the station reported. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Brittney Wilson, BSN, RN, a bachelors-prepared registered nurse, is the founder and owner of The Nerdy Nurse and TheNerdyNurse.com. In addition, Katie pursues additional education and now works as a nurse practitioner. Was the technical safeguard an addressable or required safeguard? We strive for accuracy, but cannot be held responsible for the current validity of data as best practices are ever-changing. The Nerdy Nurse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. If a nurse discloses a patients health information for a purpose not allowed by the Privacy Rule, or discloses more than the minimum necessary for the purpose of the disclosure, this is a violation of the Privacy Rule. An official from Texas Childrens Hospital confirmed the nurse lost her job as a result of violating hospital policies and federal laws by posting protected health information on social media, and not for her anti-vaxxing views. I cannot claim to know what was going on in her head when she posted that photo, I can only express my opinion. Complaints about HIPAA violations submitted to the Office for Civil Rights can be referred to the Department of Justice to pursue criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. Its not the photo, in my humble opinion, thats the real issue. The Highest Paying Jobs For Nurses With a BSN, Types of Masters in Nursing Degrees & Specialties, Pros & Cons of Getting a Master's Degree in Nursing, Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant, Highest Paid Nurse Practitioner Specialties, How to Conduct a Nursing Head-to-Toe Assessment, How to Read an Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG), Understanding and Interpreting the Glasgow Coma Scale, Complete List of Common Nursing Certifications. What Does VEAL CHOP Stand For in Nursing? It would be unfathomable for my mother to record herself feigning emotion after watching someone die, as it would put her nursing ethics into question. Delivered via email so please ensure you enter your email address correctly. If a nurse breaches confidentiality for a purpose not permitted by HIPAA, the consequences can depend on whether the breach was well-meaning (i.e., in celebration of a patients recovery) or malicious (i.e., to demean a patient). Regulatory Changes Minyvonne Burkeis a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. What was the impact of the accidental disclosure? Those nurses empathized with us until the moment he left this earth and chose to mourn his passing alongside us. With over 128,000 followers as of the writing of this update, she is one of the most popular nurses on Instagram. If the nurse works for a HIPAA Covered Entity, you can report the violation to the Covered Entitys Privacy Officer or HHS Office for Civil Rights. OB nurses from Emory got fired for sharing their patient "icks" on social media. But beyond penalties themselves, remember that you are a representative of your profession. A nurse in Florida has been fired after posting photos of a baby born with a birth defect on social media, according to hospital officials. Emory Healthcare said in its statement that patients should always feel they are being treated with "care and respect.". Not Renewing Your License or Certifications 3. "Every patient at Emory Healthcare deserves to be cared for by a compassionate, experienced team in a comfortable and safe environment," the company said. The photo captured a messy but empty trauma room that had been used to treat a man hit by a New York City subway train. My ick is when you ask me how much the baby weighs and its still in your hands, a second nurse says. I do want to thank you for attempting to bring some balance to the discussion without using it as an opportunity to belittle another nurse. You know all nursing jobs arent created (or paid!) It is illegal and fineable for nurses and other healthcare professionals to purposely or accidentally release information about patients. Patient Abuse or Poor Professional Conduct 2. She was, she said, showing how life and death situations play out every day in the hospital. You need someone in your corner telling you what your managers really need from you, helping you learn to interact with your preceptor, and really just manage your life. At least 50 employees, including nurses, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, have been fired after allegedly improperly reviewing an actor's medical records, according to NBC Chicago . Katie Duke, a nurse propelled to fame by popular reality show NY Med, was fired for social media.

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