Facebook, You're Not a Personal Health Record!

This morning, I came across a very interesting article where Facebook helped save a life. This person managed to post enough of their health and medical history to allow doctors to diagnose and treat the condition. If you could have only seen my jaw when I read that. Once I recollected myself, I got to thinking. Facebook is the biggest inhibitor to clear thought and proper judgement in younger generations since binge-drinking. Your private life should never ever be on a social network. In fact, no part of you should ever exist on such networks other than opinions, business information and some fun/not-so fun facts about your day.

If you look back to the original story, this person posted everything about their medications, feelings, worries...etc. What should have happened though, is that information should have been placed in a Personal Health Record (PHR) and carried on their person and updated during their Facebook Happy Hour. There is one clear picture that gets painted about PHR, though. They are easy to start and they are easy to maintain. That should be the only +1 you had gotten from that story. Sure, a life was saved, but what if that information that was posted got out? Let's list a few oh-no topics (found at reputation.com):

- Personal identity theft
- Banking information theft
- Burglaries
- Potential job opportunities
- Maintaining your business online reputation
- Credit card scams
- Potential college placements for yourself or a family member
- Safeguarding your insurance policy
- Protection from law suits or legal issues
- Medical benefit fraud

Does any part of that list look like something you would want to face? Oh, and don't start picking and choosing from the list of things that could happen. In the end, you're probably going to experience them all.

Friends, Personal Health Records are just that. Personal. Don't risk leaving your life or your family's life in shambles because your information got into the wrong hands. How much would you share about yourself in a room full of strangers? If you say nothing - does your Facebook page back that up? Lastly, please realize the importance of  writing, collecting and carrying any abnormalities you experience during the day within your PHR. Replace a few of your social posts with a post to your PHR, a place that matters.