Tufts Medicine Social Media Commenting Policy

*** Third parties may not communicate with Tufts Medicine through direct messaging regarding an individual's past, present or future healthcare medical condition. ***

Tufts Medicine's Department of Marketing and Communications oversees and moderates Tufts Medicine social media pages and reserves the right to remove comments and block posters who do not comply with our Social Media Commenting Policy, as outlined below.

Posts that meet the following criteria (and/or are deemed inappropriate by Marketing Communications staff) will be deleted and the poster will be banned from future commenting:

• Spamming, trolling or promoting a third party person, organization or event 
• Personal attacks, threats, harassment and abusive statements
• Profanity or obscenity
• “Hate speech,” including racist or sexist comments
• Libelous, slanderous or defamatory statements that unfairly harm the reputation of a person or organization
• Sharing a patient’s private medical information without their knowledge, consent or approval, in violation of HIPAA regulations
• “Hijacking” an existing post by making comments unrelated to the initial subject matter
• Falsehoods, misinformation, disinformation or myths that have no basis in scientific fact and/or have been scientifically delegitimized

Personal Information:

Do not include any personal information - including your address, phone number and hospital room number - in posts.

Disclaimer:

All opinions expressed on Tufts Medicine Facebook pages are those of the posters alone. We reserve the right to use material posted on our Facebook pages in one of our other social media platforms. Information posted on our Facebook pages is not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be interpreted as such. If you have any health-related questions, please consult with your doctor or another licensed healthcare professional.
 

Tufts Medicine provides web stories, health tips, quizzes and other content found in the News + Media section of our website for reuse - free of charge – as a public service for journalists, schools, businesses and the general public for the purpose of health education, awareness and wellness. We encourage the use of our material, unedited, for web and print distribution. The content available for use is identified by the words “FREE FOR EDUCATIONAL USE” at the bottom of the story.

We ask that you simply let us know you have used our material by sending us an email to our Media Relations manager: Jeremy Lechan. We can also send you a clean Word document of the story.

The content provided on this website should not be construed as medical advice or used for treatment purposes and is NOT intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional.  It should be used for general educational purposes only.

As a non-profit health organization, we do not grant permission for reprints, links, citations or other uses of our data and analysis that in any way imply that Tufts Medicine endorses a cause, candidate, issue, party, product, business or religion.

Because of privacy and/or copyright issues, photographs on this site may not be used without the expressed, written consent of Tufts Medicine. To request a photo or video and to obtain high resolution format, please write to our Media Relations manager: Jeremy Lechan. Any use of our materials that includes our logo must also be approved in writing ahead of time.

This permission to access our content applies only to stories on the News + Media page and not to the rest of our website, which is under copyright.

YOU DO NOT NEED OUR PERMISSION TO:

Use the content found at News + Media labeled as “Free For Educational Use” on a website or in a newsletter, newspaper, handout, or elsewhere for the purpose of medical education. (Note: if the copy contains links, you should continue to link to outside sources. Tufts Medicine cannot give permission to republish outside source material).

YOU DO NEED PERMISSION TO:

Use our photos or videos

Use the Tufts Medicine and affiliated logos

PLEASE DO:

Let us know if you use our material. Contact Jeremy Lechan, our Media Relations Manager.

We believe that helping to advance the public’s understanding of medicine, wellness and the important role of academic medical centers is part of our educational mission as a teaching hospital.

With that goal in mind, the Marketing and Communications office is here to facilitate interaction between the media and our staff. If you are a member of the media and wish to arrange a telephone, in-person or on-camera interview with any of our experts, please contact us!

Jeremy Lechan
Media Relations Manager
617.636.0104 or jlechan@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

Jeremy Lechan has more than 18 years experience in communications and media relations, including the past 12 years in the Marketing and Communications Department at Tufts Medical Center. Prior to joining Tufts MC, he worked in the Media Relations Department for the Boston Red Sox, spent four seasons as a radio broadcaster and media relations representative for two minor league baseball teams and was a member of the radio broadcast team for Holy Cross men’s and women’s basketball for 11 years. He earned a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Note: Reporters calling before or after regular business hours should call 617.636.5114 and ask the operator to page the Communications representative on call.

Ensuring your voice is heard 

Imagine a world where healthcare is not just about treating illnesses, but also about providing exceptional quality, service and safety to every patient. Patient and family advisory councils (PFACs) offer invaluable insights that can help us move closer to this vision, by improving access, education, patient satisfaction and loyalty. They provide an independent community perspective to help the organization enhance patient services.

Make a difference

PFACs include patients, family members, healthcare professionals and administrators who work closely to promote trust, inclusion and build stronger and healthier communities. We'd love for you to join and contribute, find individual details including annual reports and how to join by selecting your local hospital:

• Lowell General Hospital
• MelroseWakefield Hospital
• Tufts Medical Center

As a patient of Tufts Medicine, you have the responsibility to:

• Be on time for scheduled appointments and call us when you are late or need to reschedule.
• Bring information about your present and past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other health-related matters. Be open and honest about your health and medical history so that informed decisions can be made about your care.
• Ask any questions you or your family members may have regarding your health so that they can be answered. Tell the staff immediately if you do not understand any information or instructions you receive regarding your health or if you think you cannot carry out any instructions.
• Follow your physician’s advice and instructions and take all medication as prescribed. Let the staff know immediately about any changes in your symptoms or general condition. We are partners in your care during and after your stay in the hospital.
• Promptly pay your bill and inform us about your health insurance so the bill can be processed quickly and appropriately.
• Be considerate of other patients and their needs.
• Help other patients breathe easier — do not smoke where prohibited.

Code of conduct

Tufts Medicine is committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace and providing frictionless, equitable care experiences. This means nurturing a culture of inclusion and maintaining a safe and respectful environment for patients, visitors, and care team members. Disruptive conduct that is offensive, abusive, violent, threatening, or discriminatory will not be tolerated.

Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Racist, sexist, or derogatory comments or slurs
• Acts of aggression, including threats
• Possession of weapons or firearms
• Disruption of other patients’ care or experience
• Unauthorized videography, voice recordings, or photography of patients, visitors or care team members.

Violations of this code of conduct may result in:

• Visitors may be asked to leave the premises, and future visits may be restricted.
• Stabilized patients may be asked to leave and receive non-emergency care elsewhere.
• Violent behavior or criminal activity may be reported to campus or local police

Everyone using or visiting our facilities is expected to abide by these principles. If you witness or are the target of any of these behaviors, please report it to a care team member.

Download and read our code of conduct in 11 languages:

• English
• Arabic
• Haitian Creole
• Italian
• Japanese
• Khmer
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Traditional Chinese
• Vietnamese

You are the primary member of your healthcare team and have the right and responsibility to participate to ensure the safe delivery of care. You may request copies of hospital policies and procedures or practices related to care, treatment and responsibility.

• HIPAA + Notice of Privacy Practices: A notice of privacy practices that describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information.
• Notice of Nondiscrimination: Tufts Medicine complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.
• Financial assistance: Tufts Medicine provides financial counseling and assistance to those in need.
• Health Care Proxy + Medical Decision Making: Hospitals are required, by federal law, to provide all adult patients with information on their rights under state law to make decisions regarding their medical care, their right to make an “advance directive” and the hospital’s policies regarding such rights.
• Interpreter services: We offer free interpreter services to all patients, 24 hours a day, in over 240 languages.
• Massachusetts Patients Bill of Rights: Rights guaranteed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and information on how to file a grievance.
• New Hampshire Home Care Rights + Responsibilities: Your rights as a home care recipient in New Hampshire and how to share concerns or file a complaint.
• Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST): This is a decision-making process used by physicians for seriously ill patients. It involves specifying the patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatments based on their current condition. MOLST ensures that the wishes of persons with advanced illness regarding life-sustaining treatments are communicated and respected across all healthcare settings.
• Medical records: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guarantees that all medical records are confidential. Patients may request their medical records at any time.
• Speak up: We ask our patients to speak up if they have concerns. 
• Surprise Billing Protection Notice: Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills.
• Your responsibilities + Code of Conduct: We ask patients to take ownership of these responsibilities while they are at Tufts Medicine.

Visitor information
Are you a family member planning to visit a loved one in the hospital? Information in this section includes visiting hours, nearby ATMs, discounted accommodations, places to eat and more.

Spiritual care
Interfaith chaplains are here to provide spiritual and emotional support to our patients, their loved ones, and our staff. We are available to assist and care for people of any religious tradition or spiritual identity. We can explore with you what holds meaning for you and incorporate this into your care as well as connect you with faith-specific resources and practices. If this would be helpful during your hospital stay, please contact us at 617.636.2500 or page 1211. Learn more

Ethics consultation services
The Ethics Consultation Service is available to assist families who may be facing difficult decisions regarding the care of their loved one.

Volunteer services
Volunteers at Tufts Medical Center in Boston visit inpatients daily helping with non-medical support services. For example, our volunteers bring complimentary newspapers, magazines, books, puzzles, playing cards and games to patients and their families. If you are a patient and are trying to reach volunteer services, please call 617.636.1377, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Medical records
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guarantees that all medical records are kept confidential. Patients may request their medical records at any time. Learn how to request your medical record.

Interpreter services
The Tufts MC Interpreter Services Program provides 24/7 access to interpretation to both our inpatient and outpatients. Learn about the languages available here. You can request an interpreter any weekday by asking the secretary on the unit to call 617.636.5547.

Pharmacy services
Tufts Medical Center has an in-house pharmacy that can fill all your prescription needs before you leave the hospital.  We can service patients discharged from the hospital and also patients seen in our ambulatory clinics.

Case management
The case management team is comprised of the case manager and social worker.  Their goal is to provide support for the patient/family/significant other throughout the hospital stay and during the discharge process.

Social work
The social work team helps you to enhance coping skills, communicate effectively with your other healthcare providers, gain access to resources and find solutions to a broad spectrum of problems.

• You may have water or sports drinks (Gatorade®, Powerade® or Pedialyte®) up until 2 hours before your surgery time.
• Wear loose fitting clothing and low heeled comfortable shoes. 
• Remove all jewelry, including rings and body piercings. Swelling may occur in your hands during surgery. Your rings may become too tight, which could affect the circulation in your fingers. Notify the nurse in advance if you have any questions or concerns. 
• Leave your contact lenses at home and bring eyeglasses. 
• Bring your crutches or walker or any other assistive device with you.
• Bring the name and telephone number of the responsible adult that will be escorting you home. 
• Bring your blue hospital card and insurance card.
• If you have a health care proxy or advance directive, bring it with you. 
• Bring your medication list to the hospital with you.
• If you have not been evaluated by an anesthesiologist prior, you will meet a member of your anesthesia care team to examine you and discuss your anesthetic and pain treatment options.
• Do not bring any valuables, such as jewelry, credit cards, checkbooks or large amounts of cash, with you.
• You will be asked to sign an informed consent. Read it carefully. Make sure everything on the form is correct. Make sure all of your questions have been answered. If you do not understand something on the form, ask someone to explain.
• The staff may ask you the same questions many times. They will ask: your name, what kind of surgery you are having, and the part of your body to be operated on. This is for your safety.
  Inform your surgeon and/or anesthesiologist if you have been previously told that you have a “difficult airway.”
• A health care worker might mark the spot on your body to be operated on. Make sure they mark only the correct part and nowhere else.
• Marking usually happens when you are awake. If you cannot be awake for the marking, an authorized individual will assist in the marking process.
• Your surgeon will take a “time out” just before surgery. This is done to make sure they are doing the right surgery on the right body part on the right person.
• Occasionally, emergency cases arise which cause unplanned delays. We apologize in advance for any wait you may experience and ask for your patience.
• If you are having a day procedure, you will stay in the recovery area for 90 minutes after your surgery and will need someone 18 years of age or older to accompany you home.