The integration of technology in our daily lives is something that has significantly changed the way we communicate. In the contemporary setting, information received in one corner of the world will within seconds be discussed and aired across major and local media stations and shared widely across the social media platforms (Thomas, McIntosh & Edwards, 2013). In essence, we are living in a global village with the internet having outwitted all the physical barriers that have previously hindered communication. This aspect has created a society that is in dire need of information and each one of us is yearning to be among the first to receive and share the news to colleagues, both known and unknown as long as we have their contacts over social, media. Without doubt, the impact on professional roles has been wide (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2011).
There is no doubt that the use of smart phones as well as other technologies plays a key role in our daily lives. They not only help nurses and healthcare personnel respond urgently to various issues at the clinical level due to timely communication, but they are useful to those who have accepted a need for evidence-based medicine. The functionalities of the smart phones and mobile devices today can only be equated to that of the personnel computer that sits at home or in the office. One can access databases as well as other resources over the phone and make timely judgments while at the clinical setting without necessarily moving to the office to check in via a PC. On the other hand, with the aspects of telemonitoring and telehealth taking a new dimension in healthcare, the smart phones and such technologies have significantly boosted how nurses and patients can communicate with greater ease by minimizing the need for complex infrastructure (Lindsay & Gitelman, 2012). Further, it is the invention of technology and the adoption of high tech devices such as smart phones that ensured that nurses who are separated by physical distance scan share with their colleagues on pertinent issues on healthcare and develop solutions without necessarily meeting in person. This networking capability has ensured that the standards of care across the globe have improved over time as information is being utilized to facilitate and improve care outcomes (Thomas, McIntosh & Edwards, 2013).
In the case scenario here, and within the conclusion that I received a message the next morning from a colleague at the workplace of an impending investigation attributed to HIPPA violation involving a celebrity who had been admitted and whom I had attended to, this paper will seek to make reflections of the case and the possible issues that may have arisen from the event (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2011). While nurses and healthcare personnel have to enjoy their rights including that of using social media platforms, there are many issue stat may arise that could indicate that they need to be more cautious in the utilization of such. In the case study here, the excitement that comes with meeting or serving a high profile citizen could have been overwhelming for the nurse (Thomas, McIntosh & Edwards, 2013).
The decision to take pictures of the Blue Lizards lead singer, Jerod, was poorly thought out and indeed a major violation by the nurse. It was even worse at the point where it was shared to a friend. With the current investigation into the issue it means that the friend with whom the pictures were shared went further and shared them further with friends to a point where the authorities cool access them. In this case, the nurse and the hospital will be held responsible for invading on the confidentiality of the patient by using their image without their consent especially at a time when the patient was in need of medical attention (Lindsay & Gitelman, 2012). It is the highest level of professionalism and despite that fact that there is blame on excitement from the nurse it is not justifiable in any way whatsoever to have taken the pictures. There are a variety of ways that patient privacy and confidentiality can be breached and these include posting the photos of the patient or even posting to reveal the patient records as it happened in this case (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2011).
Similarly, posting a description of the patient to their medical condition or treatment plan could all be regarded as cases of breaching. In this case, the nurse breached the patient’s privacy on the basis of posting the photos as well as revealing the patient records. Within the existing HIPPA rules, the investigation will dwell on unprofessional conduct, moral depravity, unethical conduct, poor management of the patient records and disclosure of privileged information to authorized parties as well as breach of patient confidentiality. Subsequently, the nurse will be personally liable and could be sued for defamation, harassment and invasion of patient privacy based on the allegations of inflicting emotion la distress to a patient knowingly (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2011).
Conclusion
This scenario is atypical to the kind of situations that have previously necessitated the authorities in healthcare sector as well as the regulatory bodies to rethink a need for no-cell phone policies within the healthcare settings. Such a policy would require that nurses and healthcare personnel cannot use their cell phones while in attending to patients; failure to which they would be regarded as having contravened the existing thus liable to fines or suspension. While this could be a possible solution, it is a partially thought out idea that significantly takes away the benefits of technology even at a time when evidence-based practice is being advanced within the healthcare environment (Lindsay & Gitelman, 2012).
In a more realistic approach, and one that would not affect the gains already made in utilization of technology, healthcare facilities have to rethink a need for regular training and refresher courses for nurses on the use of technologies within the healthcare setting. This will entire that nurses can make decisions regarding the use of these devices and equipments based on reason and logic as opposed to excitement that ultimately expiosed them to personal liability. On the other hand, there is a need to involve the nurses and healthcare personnel in policy making so that they can feel a sense of ownership of the policy and regulation as well as increase responsibility rather than making them feel subjected to a policy (Thomas, McIntosh & Edwards, 2013).
References
Lindsay, B., & Gitelman, B. (2012). Communication technology and social media: opportunities and implications for healthcare systems. Online journal of issues in nursing, 17(3), 1_16.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2011). A nurse’s guide to the use of social media. Chicago, IL: National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Thomas, C. M., McIntosh, C. E., & Edwards, J. A. (2013). Smartphones and computer tablets: Friend or foe?. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice,4(2), p210.
