by Jennifer Henderson, Enterprise & Investigative Writer, MedPage Today December 12, 2022
Emory Healthcare has responded after a TikTok video of the patient-care pet peeves of several of its employees went viral and garnered media attention.
The video — which reportedly got more than 100,000 views and spread across other platforms before being taken down — depicted employees wearing nurse scrubs appearing to provide their take on a TikTok trend in which users detail their “icks,” typically in regards to dating, as noted by the Washington Post.
However, the trend didn’t necessarily pass muster when applied to the relationship between healthcare provider and patient.
In the 52-second video, one nurse said, “My ick is when you come in for your induction, talking about, ‘Can I take a shower and eat?'” Another added, “The dad comes outside and asks for a paternity test, right outside the room door.”
Among other “icks” stated in the video: “It’s the unlimited trips to the nurses’ station, for me.”
Emory’s response doubled down on its commitment to patient care.
“Emory Healthcare is committed to providing empathetic, high-quality care to our community, and our patients come first,” the health system said in a statement emailed to MedPage Today and also posted on social media. “We are aware of a TikTok video that included disrespectful and unprofessional comments about maternity patients at Emory University Hospital Midtown. We have investigated the situation and have taken appropriate actions with the former employees responsible for the video.”
The health system did not respond to MedPage Today‘s inquiry regarding whether the employees in question were let go as a result of the video.
However, Emory added the following in its statement: “This video does not represent our commitment to patient- and family-centered care and falls far short of the values and standards we expect every member of our team to hold and demonstrate. At no time should our patients ever feel they are not being treated with care and respect. Every patient at Emory Healthcare deserves to be cared for by a compassionate, experienced team in a comfortable and safe environment.”
In an effort to help nurses “get the best out of social media,” while at the same time safeguarding themselves, their patients, and the profession, the American Nurses Association has outlined a number of principles when it comes to social media use.
These principles include maintaining professionalism, knowing the employers’ social media policies and adhering to them across all platforms, and engaging with respectful content.
Jennifer Henderson joined MedPage Today as an enterprise and investigative writer in Jan. 2021. She has covered the healthcare industry in NYC, life sciences and the business of law, among other areas.
The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.
© 2005–2022 MedPage Today, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. All rights reserved.
Medpage Today is among the federally registered trademarks of MedPage Today, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission.