NUR 3472-Deliverable 4-Merging Ethics and Information Technology
There is a significant increase in the use of cell phones among healthcare practitioners. Research by Alvernia University (2016) suggests that despite hospitals’ restrictions on personal cell phone use, at least 67% of nurses still use their cell phones across healthcare settings. The study further indicates that while nurses use their phones to send patient data, more doctors reportedly use their cell phones for the same reason. At least 14% of nurses in a single healthcare system use personal cell phones to record patient data. Currently, more than 90,000 mobile health apps have been developed. With over 3.4 billion people using smartphones, at least 1.7 billion use mobile health apps. The implications for the use of cell phones in clinical practices are numerous.
Unethical use of smartphones in Healthcare
Ethically, healthcare providers are prohibited by institutions such as HIPAA from allowing the use of personal cell phones. Using personal cell phones to send patient data may leak protected health information. Nurses and other health care providers risk losing their jobs when they use their phones to send patients covered news. One of the unethical ways nurses use their smartphones is by taking photos of patients and sharing the images with the public or non-authorized individuals. Pictures of patients making rounds in social media or unauthorized individuals’ reach put the patient at risk of attacks or emotional bullying. HIPPA prohibits nurses from sharing patient information with family without the patient’s authorization. Using cell phones to communicate with patients and families makes it easier for family members to pressure nurses into releasing vital information, like treatment options, without the patients’ permission. Nurses are often overworked and under severe pressure.
When nurses are under pressure, they risk releasing wrong patient information to colleagues or other patients. Access to cell phones further increases this risk because nurses can easily retrieve patient data from electronic health systems and message the data to other practitioners.
Benefits of Using Smartphones in Healthcare
The clinical use of smartphones has been associated with increased communication in healthcare systems. Healthcare systems are facing a communication crisis as nurses hardly have time to interact with each other. Cell phones increase interaction between nurses, patients, and healthcare providers[ CITATION Alv16 \l 1033 ]. The use of cell phones also enhances collaboration among healthcare providers. Increased cooperation increases the quality of care as healthcare providers easily share tasks and find solutions to existing healthcare problems.
Collaboration also enhances care coordination, hence reducing incidences of readmission. The use of cell phones streamlines data flow within a healthcare system. The healthcare system runs on a complex data network that may be challenging to access. Cell phones increase data flow between patients and healthcare providers. Hospital administrators also have increased access to significant financial and other administrative essential data for efficient and effective decision-making.
Judicious use of social media
With technological advancements, the healthcare industry has expanded its social media use to draw more significant benefits. In the last decade, healthcare systems have been encouraging the sed of social media among practitioners to facilitate access to healthcare services and extend healthcare reach to communities that may suffer access barriers. Social media has encouraged healthcare consumers to manage their health actively [ CITATION Nim16 \l 1033 ]. Through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, healthcare providers share vital health information with the public, who use education or health information for personal benefits. While social media use presents numerous advantages, unethical use of social media jeopardizes healthcare systems’ efforts to deliver quality care.
Benefits of Using Social Media in Health Care
Social media enhances information sharing and collaboration among physicians. Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers can easily access health-related information from online articles. During interaction on various social media platforms, physicians can easily access expert opinions and consult with colleagues from other healthcare settings[ CITATION Nim16 \l 1033 ]. Knowledge sharing enhances research and development, which improves health outcomes. The use of social media in health care increases public awareness of important public health information. For instance, the public becomes aware of outbreaks of pandemics such as COVID-19 and Ebola through social media, where they also access information on preventive measures against the pandemics.
NUR 3472-Deliverable 4-Merging Ethics and Information Technology
Unethical Use of Social Media in Health Care
NCSBN prohibits nurses from identifying patients by their names. Publishing or posting patient information that may increase the chances of public identification of a patient is considered unethical as it puts the patient at risk[ CITATION NCSnd \l 1033 ]. The patient may easily be breached and exposed to possible dangers. They share confidential information with other healthcare practitioners on social media without the patient’s consent. NCSBN requires that the patient’s personal information be shared only with the family or other healthcare providers when the patient gives permission. Disclosing patient information on social platforms to healthcare providers who are no longer earing for the patient or healthcare system employees is highly unethical, as the NCSBN regulates.
The Roles of HIPAA, HITECH, and Nursing Code of Ethics on Protecting PHI
Personal Health Information is protected under the HIPAA privacy rule. HIPAA and HITECH mandate that any PHI dispersed or stored electronically be safeguarded. The institutions limit healthcare providers and other covered entities from sharing aHI without the patient’s consent[CITATION Moo14 \l 1033 ]. Employees are cautioned against snapping and posting photos or additional patient information that may lead to patient identifications online.
The HIPAA penalties for non-compliance were reinforced under the HITECH Act, extending to a $250,000 fine in case of a violation. According to the American Nurses Association (2014), the nursing code of Ethics requires nurses to ensure patient confidentiality by refraining from disclosing personal patient information through social media or workplaces.
References
Alvernia University. (2016). Ethical Issues in Nursing: The Impact of Smartphones on Patient Care.
American Nurses Association. (2014). The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.
Cross Country University. (2013). The HIPAA Privacy Rule, HITECH Act, Social Media, and Protecting Patient Privacy.
Kordzadeh, N. (2016). Social Media in Health Care. Contemporary Consumer Health Informatics.
NCSBN. (n.d). A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social Media.
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Question 
NUR 3472-Deliverable 4-Merging Ethics and Information Technology
Analyze ethical and nursing informatics practice standards within the context of healthcare delivery.
Scenario:
You are a nursing manager of the education and innovations department at a large nonprofit academic medical center. You work at the flagship hospital, and there are three additional campuses and several affiliated facilities throughout three other states. Therefore, technology is heavily relied upon for consistent and reliable communication for interdisciplinary care. Recently, the CNO sent you a patient satisfaction survey highlighting how impressed this patient was with their nurse’s timeliness in answering their questions. The patient continued to share that the nurse used their cell phone to reach out to the patient’s provider to get clarification of the patient’s discharge instructions. The patient loved their quick response and wanted to highlight this as a best practice for all healthcare professionals. You have just completed a technology usage assessment of the healthcare staff across departments. It has come to your attention that several nurses occasionally communicate with medical providers through text on their cell phones, using their phone’s messaging service. The nurses found that they could meet their patient needs more quickly. Your assessment also discovered that a nurse photographed a patient’s foot ulcer using their cell phone. The image was posted on social media to remind people with diabetes about managing their blood sugars. As the nursing education manager, you must ensure staff follows the hospital policies. Your technology assessment has highlighted that the team urgently needs HIPAA training and smartphone use.
Instructions
Use the scenario above to create mandatory training for all staff using PowerPoint with voice, including the following:
Examine personal Smart Phone use and its implications in Healthcare
Identify and explain a minimum of 3 unethical services of Smartphones in Healthcare (including text messaging and pictures)
Discuss the potential benefits of appropriate Smartphone use in Healthcare
Examine the judicious use of Social Media and its health implications. Possible benefitsproperiate use of Social Media in Healthcare.
Identify a minimum of 3 unethical services of Social Media (as reviewed by NCSBN).
Describe regulatory bodies and Ethical Frameworks used to protect Personal Health Information (PHI)
Investigate the role of HIPAA, HITECH, and Nursing Code of Ethics
Possible legal consequences associated with unethical or illegal Smart Phone and Social Media use exist.