Podcast Summary: AOFAS Orthopod-Cast

Episode: Safe and Appropriate Use of Social Media

Release Date: October 2, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode brings together members of the AOFAS Podcast Committee for a roundtable discussion on the safe, effective, and ethical use of social media in orthopedic practice. The panel—featuring Drs. Anish Khadakia (host), Matt, Brett, Joe, Nick, and Pam—share candid experiences, challenges, and concerns, especially related to patient privacy, professional reputation, and the evolving role of social media for surgeons. The focus is on practical insights for surgeons on employing social platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, especially regarding content boundaries, hospital policies, and personal-professional boundaries.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Social Media Use: Personal Practices & Platforms

• Diverse Attitudes: Panelists exhibit a spectrum of social media engagement, ranging from abstention (Brett, Joe) to targeted professional use (Nick, Anish).
• Generational Divide: Older surgeons voice greater skepticism and caution, while younger members consider digital presence as increasingly integral—but fraught with risks.

Notable Quotes

• "I think the older generation is not familiar with it, doesn't want to do it, and we're kind of trained to keep our life out of everybody else's eyes."
  — Anish (B), 03:26

Timestamps

• [01:04] Matt discusses abandoning Instagram after hospital legal advice on patient consent.
• [02:12] Brett and Joe share preference for privacy and minimal social presence.
• [03:46] Nick describes measured, educational use of LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

2. Motivations Behind Social Media Engagement

• Education vs. Self-promotion: The group distinguishes between patient/surgeon education, practice marketing, and the potential pitfalls of self-aggrandizement.
• Niche Content: Nick targets educational posts for medical sales professionals, demystifying surgical decisions and planning.
• Practical Utility: Pam considers the value of patient-oriented content (e.g., post-op care logistics), but hesitates due to fears of missteps or backlash.

Notable Quotes

• "There's a balance there to do stuff that's helpful for education and still not like, oh, look at how great I am, because that gets annoying and I think people see through that."
  — Nick (F), 04:49

• "If I were to do something, I think I would really want to do it for patient education... But I'm not sure again with the fear factor of what the pushback or what it would do for me."
  — Pam (G), 06:35

Timestamps

• [04:49] Nick on the challenges of balancing educational value with self-promotion.
• [06:35] Pam's perspective on potential patient education benefits and hesitations.

3. Institutional, Legal, and Ethical Hazards

• Strict Consent Policies: Hospitals may require explicit consent for any patient-identifiable posts—even at conferences. Fear of legal consequences looms large.
• Real Legal Risks: Anecdotes about professionals in other fields losing jobs or licenses due to careless social posts heighten caution.

Notable Quotes

• "You should be scared of Instagram...Some have gotten their license taken away...because they're not understanding how serious it is when you start posting things."
  — Anish (B), 01:40

Timestamps

• [01:04–01:40] Matt and Anish on hospital policies and fear-driven disengagement.

4. Managing Patient Interactions and Boundaries

• Increased Accessibility: Direct messaging from patients worldwide can become overwhelming; addressing boundaries is essential.
• Filtering Requests: Anish shares his evolution in handling patient inquiries—referring to local colleagues rather than providing remote care advice.

Notable Quotes

• "Initially I was really involved and that's a terrible idea...now I tell a patient DM, like I'll give them...this is what I think, and you should find a local surgeon."
  — Anish (B), 07:37

Timestamps

• [07:37] Anish details his approach to international patient outreach via social media.

5. Content Curation: What (Not) to Post

• Risks of Live/Intraoperative Content: Posting surgery videos—with surgeons talking to camera during procedures—is strongly discouraged. Such posts can undermine patient trust and serve as damaging evidence in legal cases.
• Incomplete Case Reporting: Posts that show dramatic intraoperative images without follow-up outcomes are problematic for education and image.

Notable Quotes

• "Your only job when you operate is that patient and perfection. Anything else is nonsense."
  — Anish (B), 15:03

• "It's the stuff that's out there that really doesn't have any follow-up... Med device companies will say congratulations to Dr. So-and-so...without any long-term follow-up or data behind it."
  — Nick (F), 13:04

Timestamps

• [11:32] Joe raises concerns about posting fresh post-op x-rays.
• [11:54–13:31] Nick and Anish highlight the need for full case reporting and caution against posting during surgery.

6. Professional Reputation and Influence

• Potential for Career Harm or Benefit: Social media can enhance or harm reputations. Even positive posts can attract inappropriate scrutiny.
• Peer and Public Perception: Comments—even innocuous ones—can be seen by patients and influence their choice of provider.

Notable Quotes

• "If you care enough about your job to do something like that [comment professionally], I thought that's who I want to go see."
  — Nick recounting patient feedback (F), 12:33

Memorable Moments & Practical Advice

• Self-Taught Social Media: Anish details his process—learning from colleagues and investing significant effort with unclear ROI.
  [11:00]

• The Permanent Nature of Posts: "Once it's out there, it's out there. It can be used in a court of law against you."
  — Anish (B), 09:13

• Best Practices:

  • Get explicit consent for all patient-related posts.
  • Prioritize posts with educational follow-up (not just dramatic images).
  • Avoid surgical videos or commentary during procedures.
  • Separate patient education from practice marketing/self-promotion.
  • Remember your responsibilities as a physician, not an influencer.

Concluding Thought

The panel agrees that social media’s role for orthopedic surgeons is only going to increase as younger generations enter the profession. The core advice remains: Protect patient privacy, post responsibly, and always prioritize the patient over online acclaim.