Healthcare Providers and Social Networking: New Threat to Patient Privacy

Minimizing Liability for Unwitting Physician and Staff Breaches

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar/teleconference with Q&A


Conducted on Thursday, October 22, 2009
Recorded event now available


This seminar will discuss the legal risks for healthcare providers using online social and business networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others. The panel will outline the risks for healthcare providers and discuss best practices to reduce breaches and minimize liability.

Description

Web-based social networking has increased significantly nationwide, including in the healthcare arena. Medscape provides an online social network for doctors. Facebook groups connect patients with similar illnesses. Hospital systems use YouTube to interact with patients and potential patients.

These online tools provide tremendous opportunities for information sharing within and outside the healthcare community. However, they also create new risks for breaching patient privacy and violating HIPAA requirements.

Counsel for healthcare providers that use or are considering online social networks—or whose staff already use them—must evaluate the benefits against the potential liabilities. Counsel will need to guide providers in developing effective corporate and staff policies regarding such sites.

Listen as our authoritative panel of healthcare attorneys examines the potential legal pitfalls for healthcare providers arising from the use of online social networking. The panel will offer strategies for healthcare providers to minimize liability exposure.

Outline

  1. Current uses and trends
  2. Risks of using social media
    1. HIPAA compliance
    2. Patient privacy and dignity
    3. Security concerns
    4. Control over content
    5. Blogs of doctors affiliated with healthcare system
  3. Best practices for protect privacy and minimize exposure
    1. Develop written policies
    2. Monitoring and policy enforcement
    3. Training
    4. Selectivity in accepting “friends” or “followers”
    5. Defining the role of physician in social networking strategy
    6. Management of use of social media tools by closed medical staffs and community-based physicians affiliated with hospital system
    7. Use of disclaimers
    8. Patient consent

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

  • Are disclaimers effective when inviting the healthcare community and patients to be a part of any online social networking?
  • What are the best practices for healthcare providers to develop and implement policies regarding the use of social networking sites?
  • What steps can healthcare providers take to protect patient privacy and ensure HIPAA compliance?

Faculty

Jo-Ellyn Sakowitz Klein, Counsel
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Washington, D.C.

She devotes her practice to regulatory, transactional and legislative matters affecting the health industry. She assists clients with Medicare and Medicaid public policy issues; issues arising under state, federal and international privacy laws and regulations; issues related to clinical research studies; food labeling issues; and issues arising in bankruptcy involving healthcare entities.

Chris Apgar, Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Apgar & Associates, Portland, Ore.

He is an expert on healthcare privacy, security, regulatory affairs and secure and efficient electronic health information exchange with over 19 years of experience in regulatory compliance.

Timothy P. Tobin
Hogan & Hartson, Washington, D.C.

He concentrates on consumer protection matters with a particular focus on privacy and data security law. He counsels businesses on various Internet and e-commerce issues. He advises clients from all industry sectors on their privacy and data security obligations and on state and federal privacy laws and regulations.

Ordering

Online CLE - Audio Recording

Includes streaming audio of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live program).

CLE: Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*. Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)

Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?


Recorded Event

Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).

CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID*, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)

Webinar Download (Audio + Slide Presentation) $49.00
Available three business days after the live event

How does this work?

Webinar on DVD (Audio + Slide Presentation) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event

How does this work?

Teleconference on CD (Audio Only) $49.00 plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event

Webinar/Teleconference

Strafford webinars/teleconferences offer several options for participation: online viewing of speaker-controlled PowerPoint presentations with audio via computer speakers or via phone; or audio only via telephone (download speaker handouts prior to the program).  Please note that our webinars do not feature videos of the presenters.

Program Materials

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Program Materials

Requires Adobe Reader 8 or later. Download Acrobat FREE.

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CLE Credit

Strafford's live seminars qualify for CLE in every state that accredits webinars. They offer you a high quality, cost effective, and convenient CLE option, with no lost travel time or expenses.

More Details >

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Customer Reviews

I enjoyed the quality of the presentations and the information presented.

Cassandra Pullen

Fresenius Medical Care North America

I appreciated that the program’s content was current and had great speakers.

Yvette Rhodes

Fowler White Boggs

Very concise - provided what was needed, yet also included many examples, thoughts and ideas.

Ron Keith

Skilled Care

The webinar was clearly presented and organized. It was a good mixture of the law and practice.

David N. Crapo

Gibbons

The speakers were well prepared and knowledgeable.

Kathleem Murphy

San Francisco General Hospital

or call 1-800-926-7926

Health Law Advisory Board

Lowell C. Brown

Partner

Arent Fox

Ryan S. Johnson

Shareholder

Fredrikson & Byron

Gina M. Kastel

Partner

Faegre Baker Daniels

Karen S. Lovitch

Member

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo

David A. Manko

Partner

Rivkin Radler

John J. Miles

Principal

Ober Kaler

J. Peter Rich

Partner

McDermott Will & Emery

Donald H. Romano

Of Counsel

Foley & Lardner

Judith A. Waltz

Partner

Foley & Lardner

John R. Washlick

Shareholder

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney

Jesse A. Witten

Partner

Drinker Biddle & Reath

or call 1-800-926-7926

Our Guarantee

Strafford webinars and teleconferences are backed by our 100% Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee: if you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. For more information regarding complaints and refunds, please contact us at 1-800-926-7926 ext 10.