1. Social Media Policy: DE Recommendations
Don S. Dizon MD
Chair, Digital Engagement
Director, Women’s Cancers, Lifespan Cancer Institute
Director, Medical Oncology, Rhode Island Hospital
Associate Professor of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Social Media Policy: DE Recommendations

2. Overview Social media: SWOG:
Collaborative
Bidirectional input with stakeholders
Integral for scientific cooperation, professional development, and promotion of SWOG and its members and member institutions.
Social media:
Breaks ground by providing a formal policy for a cooperative group.
Encourages the use of social media professionally and responsibly
SWOG:
Overview

3. Get Involved SWOG Oncology on Facebook Membership by application
Posts by members allowed (Subject to review)
House rules are in place
YouTube channel is live

4. Confidentiality and Privacy
There is never a guarantee of complete privacy online 01
SWOG Members must avoid divulging confidential and/or protected information 02

5. Confidentiality and Privacy
Obtain permission before posting pictures or other copyrighted information 01
Do not disclose any member or patient PHI 02
Information posted on SWOG’s FB page may not be suitable for other audiences 03
Confidentiality and Privacy

6. Respect Avoid conflict Clarify when necessary Understand your audience
SWOG: nearly 12K members in >1K sites worldwide
Situational awareness is key
Respect

7. If engaging “for” or “on behalf of” SWOG, be clear
If engaging as an individual, important to provide disclaimer
Posting as an individual; not representing Institution or SWOG…
Be aware of your privacy settings
You are personally responsible, and potentially liable, for any content you publish.
Transparency

8. Patient Engagement No Friending Avoid “friending” your patients
Beware PHI
Do not post patient images
Like it or Not
Avoid engaging with patient updates that include mention of personal information or specific medical condition.
HIPAA
Be sure to understand the 18 unique identifiers protected under HIPAA.
Adherence
Always adhere to your institution’s specific social media policy
Patient Engagement

9. Patient Engagement Trail recruitment = Advertising Trials
SWOG policy on advertising for subject recruitment
NIH/NCI guidelines for social media recruitment.
Trials
Patient Engagement

10. Media Engagement
Only specifically designated staff members are authorized to communicate with the media 1
Do not speak “for” SWOG without authorization 2
Be sensitive about linking to external outline content 3

11. If you have a red flag, contact Wendy Lawton (SWOG Communications and PR manager)
SWOG Leaders cannot compel members or partners to provide access to private social media accounts
SWOG Prohibits retaliation for such refusal
Disclosure

12. For questions or concerns related to this policy, contact the SWOG Communications team:
Wendy Lawton:
For more SWOG policies:
For Hope Foundation policies:
Resources