Social Media in Health Care: Safeguarding Healthcare Staff.

While the need for protection of patient privacy in electronic communications is well established in health care environments, consideration of the intrusion electronic media may have on employees is not as well developed. Staff may be subject to photography, video, and audio recording by patients, family, or visitors without their knowledge or consent. Occasionally, healthcare providers may be video-taped with the express aim of pinpointing errors or questionable care that may lead to threats and intimidation of the employee. In rare cases, inappropriate pursuit of a staff member by a patient, family member, or visitor via electronic means has resulted in harassment very similar to stalking.