"On the one hand, we are fostering the use of social media

...[for education and communication with the hospital], and on the other hand we are saying [to nurses and other employees], 'you have to be very careful when you go on social media, and you can't share patient information in any way or refer to patients in any way under threat of discipline.' It goes against the general cultural norm for employees who are so used to sharing their lives on social media. The challenge is to help people understand there is a professional life and there is a personal life. In your professional life, you are expected to be friendly toward patients, but you are not expected to friend a patient. People come here not because we are friends but because we uphold a certain professionalism and standard of care that we are expected to maintain at all times."

— Nickie Braxton, privacy officer at Boston Medical center, told AIS's Report on Medicare Compliance.