Currently, I am not part of a professional organization.
As a Hearing Instrument Practitioner (HIP) I was part of the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners (AHIP). The association held us accountable to our patients. In the event a patient submitted a formal complaint, our Association would provide support and guidance through their legal team. Beyond that, I am not aware of the amount of protection provided.
As a HIP, we work within an interdisciplinary team in a variety of environments. In hospital settings, we may work alongside, family physicians, audiologists, otolaryngologists, geriatricians, nurses and allied health.
These interactions are in the form of referrals from family physicians, otolaryngologists, neurologists, pediatricians and geriatricians.
We will work alongside an otolaryngologist in a hospital or private clinic setting completing audiometric testing, hearing instrument measurement and fittings. As well as providing resources and aural counselling to patients and their families.
An appropriate social media presence requires a curated space based on snapshots of all facets of your life; personality, education, hobbies, family, community and career. Curating a social media space, such as a profile, website or blog does not mean sacrificing authenticity rather it means sharing elements of your authentic self with the understanding of the permanence of your social media presence. As the video on Social Media Professionalism in the Medical Community discusses, all content posted on social media is public, even though we may think or want these moments to remain private.
In considering professional and ethical standards, curating your social media space puts you in control of your image or brand. Is it too naive or simplistic to suggest a good rule of thumb on social media engagement is that it is best to avoid engaging in social media posts, discussions and posting photos that would deter employers, other professionals and in some cases patients from feeling comfortable and confident to reach out and use your services.
With that said, I do not believe that as a professional we are obligated to speak up in public. Many people have initiatives that they care about and advocate on behalf. They must be able to express their viewpoints appropriately online. However, the challenge for most people and in this case professionals, is how to avoid reacting to an off-putting comment or personal attack while maintaining their professional integrity online. Should we always take the higher road? Should we ignore the comments?
Let's circle back on this!
References:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).(2013). Social Media Professionalism in the Medical Community. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N8A5LMlego
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