By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    alzheimer’s disease
    Anavex Life Sciences’ Anavex 2-73 Could Slow Alzheimer’s
    June 14, 2024
    medicare shift
    From Volume To Value: The Medicare Shift To Value-Based Care
    August 20, 2024
    Physicians
    Why Recruiting Physicians is More Challenging than Hiring Other Professionals
    December 17, 2024
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The Divide in the ACO Debate – Beltway Rhetoric versus Marketplace Cynicism
    February 3, 2012
    Patient Engagement Matters
    February 6, 2013
    future of healthcare survey heathcare reform
    The Future of Healthcare Survey: Does it include Doctors?
    March 2, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Healthcare Providers Stifle Online Free Speech
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Ethics > Healthcare Providers Stifle Online Free Speech
Medical EthicsSocial Media

Healthcare Providers Stifle Online Free Speech

thielst
thielst
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

As I’ve mentioned before in posts, my background includes service as a hospital risk manager.  So, I’m an advocate of techniques to minimize risk.  However, I’ve learned of one that really goes a bit too far and actually takes us a few steps back away from the goal of transparency in healthcare.  It also makes me wonder, where is the concern for the patient’s experience?

As I’ve mentioned before in posts, my background includes service as a hospital risk manager.  So, I’m an advocate of techniques to minimize risk.  However, I’ve learned of one that really goes a bit too far and actually takes us a few steps back away from the goal of transparency in healthcare.  It also makes me wonder, where is the concern for the patient’s experience?

It stems from a case where a dentist had her patient sign a “Mutual Agreement To Maintain Privacy”, which asks patients to agree not to publish or write anything disparaging about their experience with the health care provider.  One of her patients paid cash for his care, but wasn’t able to get the documents needed to file a claim with his insurance company.  So he posted negative reviews of the dentist’s office on the consumer websites Yelp and DoctorBase. This lead to a tug-of-war and the patient finally filing a lawsuit.

The agreement does seem to be a mechanism for stifling negative online reviews by a provider’s patients. The lawsuit challenges the health care provider’s ability to stifle free speech.

More Read

Image
Beyond the Buzz: A Three-Stage Approach to Handling a Healthcare Social Media Crisis
How to Use Instagram Video in Healthcare
Does Pharma Get Social Media?
How Advanced Social Intelligence is Already Transforming Healthcare
How Good a Doctor Are You?

My take on this situation is that there seems to have been poor communication from the beginning and lack of concern for the patient experience.  What is the definition of “anything disparaging”.  Is it the patient sharing his story of how difficult it has been to get the necessary documentation to submit to the insurance company?  

My recommendation, as always, is that providers will be better served if they communicate effectively with their patients, provide appropriate service and develop a trusting relationship with their patients. The provider in this case (from the information available in the article) doesn’t trust her patients and may not deserve that trust if her office procedures aren’t set up to fulfill her obligations to the patient. 

This is an important case for social media and networking sites.  We will have to monitor and see how this resolves.  For more detail on the story, read the iHealthBeat article.

TAGGED:negative feedback on your hospital social media
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Health Tips For Women
Top 5 Health Tips For Women Over 45
Women Health
July 7, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

FDA Fired Device Whistleblowers

January 30, 2012
Medical EthicsPolicy & Law

You be the Judge

August 31, 2012
health innovation
eHealthSocial Media

Top 10 Quotes From Rock Health’s Innovation Summit

August 26, 2013

Big Data Part II Social Media

April 18, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?