Surgery status updates to family via Twitter

Interesting use of technology, but scary from a HIPAA privacy perspective. Also feels a little creepy to me. The patient is only identified as “Patient of Dr. So and so“.

“…Fawcett Memorial Hospital will begin using social networking website Twitter to give family members updates on patients in surgery. It’s a unique way the family can stay informed through the whole process.

“We’re able to be inside the surgical room while a patient is having surgery, tweeting out updates,” said Michelle Ritter, Director of Marketing for Fawcett Memorial Hospital….”

WZVN Fort Meyers: Hospital using Twitter for patient updates