James G Bittner IV, MD1, Heather J Logghe, MD2, Ross Goldberg, MD3, Adnan Alseidi, MD, EdM4, Rajesh Aggarwal, MD, PhD5, Brian P Jacob, MD6. 1St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT, 2Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, 3Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix, AZ, 4Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 5Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Jefferson Strategic Ventures, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, PA, 6Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Introduction: Closed social media groups (CSMG), like closed Facebook® groups, are online communities that can provide physicians with a platform to privately collaborate via text, images, videos, and live streaming in real time, with the intention of optimizing patient care. The use of CSMG platforms represents a novel paradigm in online learning and education, and as such, it is imperative to ensure public and patient trust in the doctors who use these platforms. Informed consent is an essential aspect of establishing this trust. With the launch of several of its own CSMG, SAGES seeks to clearly define its stance on this topic, as well as to provide an informed consent template specific for CSMG utilization.
Methods: An extensive online literature review was conducted to identify articles published in English between 2012 and 2018, discussing the informed consent process for posting clinical scenarios, photography, and/or videography on social media. Pertinent articles and exemplary legal counsel-approved CSMG policies and informed consent forms were reviewed by members of the SAGES Facebook® Group Task Force. Using this information, a societal statement and informed consent template were formulated.
Results: Eleven articles and two CSMG policies involving informed consent were reviewed. Articles which discuss key components of the informed consent process, including patient transparency and confidentiality, provider-patient partnerships, ethics, and education when using CSMG were included. Exemplary policy and informed consent documents were used to aid in formulating Task Force consensus and creating a template for patient consent, specifically to share clinical vignettes, photography, and/or videography via CSMG platforms.
Conclusions: CSMG offer a transformative, dynamic, and highly valuable tool for ongoing medical and surgical education and collaboration. As the value of the content shared on these platforms continues to grow, patients and institutions’ trust in doctors who use these platforms should likewise be enhanced. The CSMG informed consent may be a critical component before posting certain patient information on these platforms. SAGES promotes the safe and responsible use of CSMG designed to help doctors optimize their patients’ outcomes.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 93406
Program Number: S009
Presentation Session: Education
Presentation Type: Podium