School of Medicine & Public Health – Personal Social Media Use

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Policy Number:
SMPH-1005
Old Policy Number:
10.05
Responsible Office:
SMPH Dean’s Office

School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The increased use of social media by health care providers, educators, learners, and administrators, combined with the ease of finding information online can blur personal and work identities, posing new considerations for professional conduct in the information age. Despite the availability of privacy settings, all content shared on social media sites must be presumed public and permanent as privacy settings are often easily circumvented and deleted content may remain in archives. This policy establishes standards of social media use at the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH).

Definitions:
Social media
Interactive, web-based, or digital platforms for social networking and content sharing. 
Scope:

This policy applies to all SMPH learners, faculty, and staff using social media. It applies to all digital media platforms that are inherently social in nature or function and recognizes that such platforms will continually emerge and transform as technologies change.

Policy:
  1. The same standards of professionalism that govern SMPH faculty, staff’s, and learners’ in-person actions apply when engaging with social media.
  2. The following actions are prohibited by all SMPH faculty, staff, and learners:
    1. Release of any patient protected health information (i.e., information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care) or any other violation of patient privacy/confidentiality.
    2. Release of private academic information about another SMPH learner, including grades, evaluation results, exam scores, or disciplinary action.
    3. Use of social media to portray oneself as an official representative of or spokesperson for SMPH without proper authorization from SMPH administration. 
      1. While identifying oneself as affiliated with UW–Madison or SMPH on social media platforms is permissible, be clear that views being shared are on behalf of oneself as an individual, not as a representative of UW–Madison or SMPH. This may be accomplished by a disclaimer such as: “The views expressed on this account are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin–Madison or the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.”
      2. Do not represent an institutional stance about a political candidate or representative, pending or current legislation, or political party unless authorized to do so by an SMPH legislative affairs representative.
    4. Use of social media to represent oneself as another or to impersonate another living person.
    5. Any violation of law or policy, including copyright or other intellectual property laws, defamation laws, and professional licensing requirements.
  3. SMPH does not actively monitor the online activity of faculty, staff, and learners. Should SMPH become aware of online activity that appears to violate relevant law, policy, or behavioral code, it may choose to review and take action.
  4. Possible violations of this policy will be reviewed by the appropriate SMPH administrative unit, and any disciplinary action will be commensurate with the policies applicable to the faculty, staff, or learner.
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:

SMPH Health Science Professions Programs Guidelines on Social Media (refer to specific program handbooks for details)

UW-Madison Social Media Guidelines

UW–Madison Social Media Statement

External References:

UW Health Social Media Policy 1.47 

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Dean, School of Medicine and Public Health
Policy Manager:
SMPH Chief of Staff
Contact:
Chief Communications Officer, School of Medicine and Public Health -- Robyn Perrin, rmperrin@wisc.edu, (608) 263-5051
Effective Date:
09-01-2020
Date Issued:
09-01-2020
Revised Dates:

08-01-2021 

Retrieved:
01-19-2025 18:32:45