Here are five things to know about boundaries between physicians and patients.
1. Physicians don’t agree on how strict the boundaries should be. According to the report, some are firmly against socializing with patients or disclosing personal details about their own lives, while others believe a closer relationship can build trust and entice patients to follow medical advice.
2. Wayne Riley, president of the American College of Physicians, contends physicians should “adopt a posture of warm detachment” with their patients, according to The Wall Street Journal.
3. In February, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a new policy on digital and social media that included a warning against posting or blogging about specific patients or work-related clinical events.
4. In 2013, the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards released a position statement on the topic. In the statement, the FSMB said it specifically discourages physicians from “interacting with current or past patients on personal social networking sites such as Facebook.”
5. According to The Wall Street Journal, professional medical organizations have strict rules against romance with patients. Physicians are also advised not to treat family or close friends.
More articles on integration and physician issues:
Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, Atlantic Shores partner to integrate services: 6 things to know
Viewpoint: Why emergency physicians haven’t lost under the ACA — yet
Planned Parenthood scrutinizes security after Colo. shooting
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