To help members ensure they have the policies and procedures in place to protect residents’ privacy, AHCA/NCAL has provided a social media guidance document for members, offering critical information to help you ensure that social media is used correctly at your center.  The guidance even includes a template social media policy. (Note: you will need to log in to AHCA/NCAL to access the guidance.)

Members may find this information particularly useful in light of the issuance of S&C: 16-33-NH, Protecting Resident Privacy and Prohibiting Mental Abuse Related to Photographs and Audio/Visual Recordings by Nursing Home Staff.

Social media platforms can play an important role in helping providers communicate with their residents, families, and community.  Unfortunately, if misused, these platforms can present significant risks to residents through the breach of privacy and subjecting them to mental abuse.

In addition to the AHCA/NCAL social media guidance document, VHCA-VCAL has included a session at the 2016 Convention and Trade Show on The Evolving World of Social Media in the LTC Setting.