TWR Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Why do we use pseudonyms on this site to post? Most recent reply was "Thanks E". Just wondering. I use my initials but would be happy to use my name. Aren't we responsible for what we say? Tom Roselle PA, DFAAPA aka twr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted August 14, 2015 Administrator Share Posted August 14, 2015 Disclosures of real names are welcome but not required. If you don't want programs to know who you are, then you can try and conceal your online identity. If you want to make sure the cases you post have that much more security for the identify of your patients' being reverse engineered by concealing your own identity, go for it. Be aware, however, that if you disclose your name and someone doesn't like what you post, they can contact your employer, school, or whatnot and complain about you. Some places would take that as seriously as a patient complaint, which is silly, but don't pretend it can't happen. Despite my pseudonym, someone took exception to some advice I gave about interviewing at my University ("The hotels closest to the campus itself interpret 'non smoking' to mean 'room not currently on fire'; you'd be better off staying a few miles to the east" is the only thing I said that was at all controversial) and complained to my academic director, and I was easily identified and talked to about how I should conduct myself online. It wasn't an adversarial conversation, but more of a "well, if someone thought it wasn't funny, then you're not helping us out here by portraying the program as open and inviting" discussion. Mind you, that was an "informal counseling session" according to the student discipline handbook, which means someone who said they wanted to be a PA student and went through the interview process for the year behind mine, decided that they wanted to try and ruin my career as a PA just because they didn't like how I flippantly addressed a topic. It's basic logic: if you want to fix a person, talk to the person himself. If you want to fire a person, talk to his boss. If you want to expel a person, talk to his program director. So yeah, pseudonyms are welcome here. So are real names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I do not identify myself for fear that someone will take a screenshot and post it to Facebook or LinkedIn or something else - I don't participate in any social media sites. I like the anonymity because I can be myself and say what I believe, not what corporate medicine believes. Teachers have been fired for posting a decades old picture of them drunk in college on Facebook. WHY would I open myself to undue scrutiny and potential backlash? - which I think is ridiculous….. So, I have my screen name and no picture posted and haven't listed my city of origin and only give out select personal information because NOTHING is sacred on the internet. I have enjoyed this forum and would like to continue to have discussions with my peers without fear of my town council, employer or whomever else might hold a grudge. I am thankful for that opportunity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbrsmurf Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 So I can say stupid shit without real-life consequences Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbrsmurf Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 such as: Pain is a fifth vital sign that should be treated. that would probably get me a beating by my colleagues in real life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I'm George Clooney from "ER". My character was based on a real life character, EMEDPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoRyou Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I'm George Clooney from "ER". My character was based on a real life character, EMEDPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Febrifuge Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I'm actually four cats, a red-tailed hawk, and a small lizard, all stacked up inside a white lab coat. So far, no one suspects and we would like to keep it that way. Slightly more seriously, my employer's social media policy is both incredibly clear and easy to remember, and also not very realistic or useful: they simply said at orientation lo those many years ago "don't talk about work online. Ever." But this board is a good resource for my own continuous process of self-improvement. It arguably makes me a better and more well-informed clinician. But do I want to have to sit in a conference room with my SP, someone from Legal, and some type of patient advocate person, and try and articulate how and why I believe that is true? NOPE. I never give out patient information. I truly believe I have always been HIPAA-compliant. But it's a whole lot easier if I don't get specific about my own personal identifying details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delco714 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I'm actually a nurse practitioner sent by the union to infiltrate the competition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWR Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 ok ok! All points I understand. In todays world, things said can come back and bite you in the butt. I wonder if the recently posted PAFT statement signed and with a picture will come back and bite him by some PA school or employer???? Excellent stement by the way. Should be read by all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator True Anomaly Posted August 14, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 14, 2015 In addition to everything else posted already, there have also been people on this forum over the years who have held elected positions in state and national organizations who have enjoyed being able to be open and talk about PA issues without worrying about the organization thinking they are speaking on behalf of them. We always want to encourage that on the PA Forum, and I don't foresee a time when we'll require real names or identities to post here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWR Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 wasn't thinking about "requiring" anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBanner Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 CYA. There could be lurkers on here who screenshot something you say and take it way out of context, sending it to your employer, state medical board, etc. "This PA said obesity is NOT a disease and he doesn't Rx weight loss drugs because he thinks we are fat of our own making!!!" Also HIPPA issues. There's a lot of tattletales out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I am hoping we all remain civil and professional and gain something from our peers as well as having an arena to vent about day to day irritations and the ever changing landscape of medicine. Being able to express oneself fully without fear of repercussion or being seen as "NOT a team player" by employers, etc is very helpful. I like the case reviews on here. They are anonymous and I have never seen identifying markers that would allow me to know who someone is or appear to violate privacy laws. Thanks to everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator True Anomaly Posted August 14, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 14, 2015 wasn't thinking about "requiring" anything. Just a general statement, not targeted at anything you said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpRegulated Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I'm actually a nurse practitioner sent by the union to infiltrate the competition No, that's me. Though I guess my secret infiltration would have been more effective without my signature line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I was horrifed once when a patient visited me about five years ago with a copy of something I said on this forum in her hand. It was scary. So I am very careful when I talk about patients and I tired to avoid using my name to not make it easily searchable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Here's a twist - google yourself with your professional title. I found a patient commenting on me (thankfully all positive) on her own blog. It took me by surprise. I don't do Facebook or LinkedIn or any social media - just not my thing and the whole privacy issue, to boot. We could start another thread - these provider rating sites scare the bejeebers out of me. No idea who is going on them and making comments and I work a lot with workers' comp - some of the angriest folks around sometimes. Now, I found out there are sites you can PAY to put good comments into rating sites.................... YIKES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBanner Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I was horrifed once when a patient visited me about five years ago with a copy of something I said on this forum in her hand. It was scary. So I am very careful when I talk about patients and I tired to avoid using my name to not make it easily searchable. THAT is scary....how did they peg you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Oh, Holy Smokers, I need to become anonymous. I have an anonymous alter ego on here and people figured out who I was. I'm too darn transparent. That saran wrap is getting plenty hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I can't speak for the rest of you but this is exactly why I always put a drape over my laptop camera and place my foil hat over my head anytime I'm reading or posting here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoRyou Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 I can't speak for the rest of you but this is exactly why I always put a drape over my laptop camera and place my foil hat over my head anytime I'm reading or posting here. LOL The official Tinfoil Hat Society New Member Welcome Part 1: Introductory Video Part 2: Membership Enrollment Part 3: New Member Welcome Part 4: BBQ Day with the "Kids" Part 5: Waxing about conspiracies and toaster ovens Part 6: Attack the AFHS (Ailluminati Foil Hat Society) Part 7: ???? Part 8: Bingo Night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpRegulated Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Full disclosure here. That is not a picture of me. No really it's not. My name is not Ben and I was not a character in Lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medic25 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Full disclosure here. That is not a picture of me. No really it's not. My name is not Ben and I was not a character in Lost. I had a feeling the whole DNP thing was a project by the Dharma Initiative.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 17, 2015 Moderator Share Posted August 17, 2015 I had a feeling the whole DNP thing was a project by the Dharma Initiative.... in one of the time lines maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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