Posting client info on FB

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Has anybody here ever run into that problem? I'm not even in graduate school yet, and I have friends that post things on their facebooks that makes me cringe. For example, this girl who works as a vocational counselor (she only has a BA) for children with autism posted a picture of a birthday card that her clients made for her...and the kids had signed the card with their first and last names. Is this an issue? What do you guys do if/when you come across similar situations?

Originally Posted by LucidMind

Has anybody here ever run into that problem? I'm not even in graduate school yet, and I have friends that post things on their facebooks that makes me cringe. For example, this girl who works as a vocational counselor (she only has a BA) for children with autism posted a picture of a birthday card that her clients made for her...and the kids had signed the card with their first and last names. Is this an issue? What do you guys do if/when you come across similar situations?

I would say yes. I would not post the card.

yikes. I'd let your friend know that people have been let go from programs for revealing FAR less than a full name. I would not put ANY patient info on social media, ever. I never ever talk about any aspect of clinical work on social media even if it's totally deidentified. A woman was let go from a nursing program when she posted a picture of a placenta (even with no identifying info). I had a picture of myself on facebook holding a real brain (with no identifying information), but removed it to be better safe than sorry.

I know people who post funny things that their clients say, with no identifying information.

Originally Posted by serotonin

yikes. I'd let your friend know that people have been let go from programs for revealing FAR less than a full name. I would not put ANY patient info on social media, ever. I never ever talk about any aspect of clinical work on social media even if it's totally deidentified. A woman was let go from a nursing program when she posted a picture of a placenta (even with no identifying info). I had a picture of myself on facebook holding a real brain (with no identifying information), but removed it to be better safe than sorry.

Yeah..that's what I was worried about. Seems so careless, especially something with first and last names. I'll message her and just let her know, hopefully she decides to take it down.

Yeah, first and last names is a no-no, especially since her employer is likely listed right there on her FB profile. Whether or not her working environment would classify as falling under the HIPAA umbrella, I'm sure the kids (and their parents) wouldn't be happy to know this information was up on a social media site. Beyond that, she's essentially also involuntarily (for them) revealing diagnostic information, given that she works with individuals with autism.

I personally try to talk about work as little as possible on FB, and never post anything negative about my employer(s). I also generally never mention anything about patients, particularly about any one specific patient. At the very least, I've come to realize that most of this stuff is probably much more interesting to me than it is anyone else.

Thanks so much for the help guys. I messaged her to let her know, and she seemed really grateful that I pointed it out and immediately took the picture down. Mission success! Thanks again :-)

Originally Posted by AcronymAllergy

Yeah, first and last names is a no-no, especially since her employer is likely listed right there on her FB profile. Whether or not her working environment would classify as falling under the HIPAA umbrella, I'm sure the kids (and their parents) wouldn't be happy to know this information was up on a social media site.

I was thinking that as well - depending on her position and the organization, it may not be an actual HIPAA violation, but it is certainly not good practice. If I were a parent, I would not want my child's name to be posted on Facebook without my awareness.

As a graduate student instructor, I cringe when I see other instructors post student information as well. I have seen emails copied and pasted to social media, pictures of essay or exam responses, and dumb questions asked in class. Often no name is involved, but the people could easily be identified. While this may be more of a grey area, I still feel that it is inappropriate in most cases.

Our program didn't forbid FB and the like but it did monitor them from time to time. We were advised not to use our full names or to use a pseudonym. This type of posting would lead to discipline if not academic probation in my school. My former employer (inpatient) also did not forbid social media but made it very clear if anything was questionable it would lead to termination.

As far as HIPAA goes, it is likely if the kids are dx w/autism and are at a center or tied to an educational setting IDEA or Headstart would be part of the services and it would be a HIPAA violation. Regardless, ethically this is a huge violation of the confidentiality between a patient (in this case parents as well) and the provider.

At some point employers and those that take volunteers/interns/prac students should be educating their people about ethics and confidentiality as they will be held ultimately responsible.

Originally Posted by cara susanna

I know people who post funny things that their clients say, with no identifying information.

I don't see how anything like this could even be close to appropriate. Even with no identifying information - one does not need to be discussing anything that their clients say publicly. It isn't just about confidentiality - it is also about how other people view our profession. People who do this sort of thing are being very poor representatives of psychologists, IMO. For example, it makes it seem like we don't take our clients seriously - or for those on your facebook list who are not intimately familiar with confidentiality regulations for psychologists - they might begin to assume that what is said is not confidential should they or someone they know ever go to a psychologist.

Originally Posted by Pragma

Even with no identifying information - one does not need to be discussing anything that their clients say publicly. It isn't just about confidentiality - it is also about how other people view our profession.

Heh. My response would be, "what happens when a client stumbles across this? What happens to any alliance they have with any mental health professional? If they're your therapy client?"

Originally Posted by WJPSYCH

As a graduate student instructor, I cringe when I see other instructors post student information as well. I have seen emails copied and pasted to social media, pictures of essay or exam responses, and dumb questions asked in class. Often no name is involved, but the people could easily be identified. While this may be more of a grey area, I still feel that it is inappropriate in most cases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_...nd_Privacy_Act

Originally Posted by Pragma

I don't see how anything like this could even be close to appropriate. Even with no identifying information - one does not need to be discussing anything that their clients say publicly. It isn't just about confidentiality - it is also about how other people view our profession. People who do this sort of thing are being very poor representatives of psychologists, IMO. For example, it makes it seem like we don't take our clients seriously - or for those on your facebook list who are not intimately familiar with confidentiality regulations for psychologists - they might begin to assume that what is said is not confidential should they or someone they know ever go to a psychologist.

Agreed.

I never post anything that I wouldn't be okay with a client reading (same as the report-writing rule, I guess!) And due to FB frequently changing their settings without telling people, i imagine a client will see my FB page at some point. One thing i always avoid is complaining about going to work, long hrs at work, etc.

FB is best used to post funny pictures of cats, anyway.

Dr. E

Originally Posted by Doctor Eliza

Agreed.

I never post anything that I wouldn't be okay with a client reading (same as the report-writing rule, I guess!) And due to FB frequently changing their settings without telling people, i imagine a client will see my FB page at some point. One thing i always avoid is complaining about going to work, long hrs at work, etc.

FB is best used to post funny pictures of cats, anyway.

Dr. E

Not saying that I post anything about clients at all, but it occurs to me that using your facebook assuming clients will read whatever you post is a bit restrictive. In that case, I would feel as if I could post almost nothing except links to mental health resources. As a human, I have opinions on politics, news events, entertaiment, etc. I don't necessarily want my clients to know these things about me. However, I post them on facebook because I want to share them with friends across the country and get their responses. The privacy settings aren't so tricky. It's pretty easy to make sure no one can search for you by name or see your posts without being your direct friend. A pseudonym works well too.

Originally Posted by Pragma

I don't see how anything like this could even be close to appropriate. Even with no identifying information - one does not need to be discussing anything that their clients say publicly. It isn't just about confidentiality - it is also about how other people view our profession. People who do this sort of thing are being very poor representatives of psychologists, IMO. For example, it makes it seem like we don't take our clients seriously - or for those on your facebook list who are not intimately familiar with confidentiality regulations for psychologists - they might begin to assume that what is said is not confidential should they or someone they know ever go to a psychologist.

excellent post. Our DCT used to tell us to go by the cocktail party thought experiment. Imagine that at all times your therapy pt is standing right behind you, unbeknownst to you, listening at a cocktail party. What wouldn't they want to hear you say about them? Chances are, they wouldn't want you to mention them at all.

Pretty simple rule: go to work, do your work, leave your work at work.

Originally Posted by KillerDiller

Not saying that I post anything about clients at all, but it occurs to me that using your facebook assuming clients will read whatever you post is a bit restrictive. In that case, I would feel as if I could post almost nothing except links to mental health resources. As a human, I have opinions on politics, news events, entertaiment, etc. I don't necessarily want my clients to know these things about me. However, I post them on facebook because I want to share them with friends across the country and get their responses. The privacy settings aren't so tricky. It's pretty easy to make sure no one can search for you by name or see your posts without being your direct friend. A pseudonym works well too.

Perhaps I didn't express that so clearly. Not everything I post would necessarily be appropriate to bring up in a therapy session with a client (e.g., my support of marriage equality, who I voted for) but it also wouldn't bother me if a client inadvertently learned those things about me. That sort of thing we could discuss and work through. On the other hand, it would be hugely problematic if clients read me posting things that were hateful or obscene.

Dr. E

Originally Posted by Doctor Eliza

Perhaps I didn't express that so clearly. Not everything I post would necessarily be appropriate to bring up in a therapy session with a client (e.g., my support of marriage equality, who I voted for) but it also wouldn't bother me if a client inadvertently learned those things about me. That sort of thing we could discuss and work through. On the other hand, it would be hugely problematic if clients read me posting things that were hateful or obscene.

Dr. E

Ok, that makes perfect sense.

my employer doesnt even like for us to post that we work there on our facebook pages. the people who actually know me know where i work, but it's part of my company's policy that we not mention where we work on social media.

that's fine by me, actually. i prefer to engage in tomfoolery on facebook. who wants to talk about work anyway?