E-Professionalism and Social Media

Navigating the Digital Frontline: A Living Case Study in E-Professionalism and Recruitment Scams

In an era of unprecedented digital growth, the professional landscape for healthcare leaders is shifting beneath our feet. While social media offers a "revolution" in how we network, collaborate, and advocate for our patients, it has also birthed a new breed of sophisticated digital predation.

We often talk about e-professionalism the digital manifestation of our traditional professional values, in the context of what not to post. But as I recently discovered through a personal encounter with a high-level "Executive Resume Scam," e-professionalism is equally about digital literacy and the ability to defend your professional identity against fraudulent "AI-driven" barriers. AI and social media are powerful tools, but they require us to stay sharp.

This blog post serves as a "Living Case Study," blending my recent experience with the "Confidential" outreach of a suspicious recruiter and the academic framework of a scoping review on the benefits and dangers of social media for healthcare professionals. From the psychological hook of a "Global VP" role to the pseudo-science of a fake "15/100" resume score, we will explore via the lens of a scoping review  (Rukavina et al., 2021):

• The Benefits: How networking and advocacy tools can unknowingly become bait for scammers.

• The Dangers: The reality of "loosening accountability" and the "blurred professional boundaries" that allow predators to reach us directly.

• The Defense: Why your professional worth isn't a score on a fake dashboard, and how to verify opportunities in a world of "identity dissonance".

Based on the scoping review of original peer-reviewed research published between 2014 and 2020, here are the key takeaways regarding the impact of social media (SM) on the e-professionalism of health care professionals (HCPs) (Rukavina et al., 2021):

Top 5 Benefits of Social Media

1. Professional Networking and Collaboration: SM facilitates improved networking and allows for the creation of support communities where students can interact with faculty for advice and virtual mentorship.

   
   

2. Professional Education and Training: HCPs use these platforms for acquiring knowledge, accessing information from experts, and engaging in peer-to-peer learning.

   
   

3. Patient Education and Health Promotion: Many HCPs believe SM is a suitable tool for raising public health awareness, sharing general medical knowledge, and improving the efficiency of patient communication.

   
   

4. Development of Professional Identity: Engagement on SM enables HCPs to build professional identities and can provide a voice for advocacy and stating professional opinions.

   
   

5. Access to High-Quality Information: Platforms provide students, residents, and faculty with an engaging medium to access high-quality, current medical information.

   
   

Top 5 Dangers of Social Media

1. Depiction of Unprofessional Behavior: Studies reported various instances of unprofessional content, including images of alcohol intoxication, illegal drug use, and sexually suggestive material.

   
   

2. Compromising Confidentiality: A major concern is the breach of patient privacy and potential violations of HIPAA standards, such as posting identifiable patient information or clinical images without consent.

   
   

3. Blurred Professional Boundaries: The lines between personal and professional life often become blurred, specifically regarding "friending" patients or students and the mixing of personal and professional profiles.

   
   

4. Loosening Accountability: This includes the erosion of public trust due to poor quality information and potential damage to one's professional image, which can negatively impact future employment.

   
   

5. Legal Issues and Disciplinary Consequences: Unprofessional online behavior can lead to serious legal ramifications, including fitness-to-practice complaints, loss of licensure, lawsuits, or job loss.

Key Takeaway on Education

The review highlights a clear need for formal integration of e-professionalism into health care curricula. While some barriers like time constraints and lack of technical skills exist, educational interventions have shown a positive impact on increasing HCP awareness and improving their online behavior.

Reference:

Rukavina, T. V., Viskić, J., Poplašen, L. M., Relić, D., Marelić, M., Jokic, D., & Sedak, K. (2021). Dangers and Benefits of Social Media on E-Professionalism of Health Care Professionals: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(11), e25770. https://doi.org/10.2196/25770