A Salem Health employee is under investigation after posting a video mocking a patient’s complaint of pain.
In a video posted to Twitter, an emergency department technician looks into the camera and appears frustrated as a patient can be heard moaning in pain off-screen.
A screen transcript of a tweet posted Monday morning said the caption read, “If patient’s coping ability is low.”
The employee’s Twitter account and the original video have since been deleted. The Salem Reporter did not respond to a request for comment in an Instagram message on Tuesday.
video has drawn criticism on Twitter, and a TikTok from popular users reacting to the video has over 500,000 likes as of Tuesday afternoon.
Salem Health posted on its social media accounts Monday night, “This person does not speak for Salem Health. The employee is under investigation and is not working during the investigation.”
The hospital has confirmed that the person in the video was working as an emergency department technician when the investigation was launched. They have an active state-listed CNA license set to expire in January 2024.
The Salem Reporter has not named the employee as the investigation has not been completed and no disciplinary action has been taken.
An employee identified in the video is being investigated for violating the hospital’s patient privacy and social media policy, according to an email from Salem Health spokeswoman Lisa Wood.
The hospital’s social media policy states that employees do not include protected medical information, but “may cause community members to lose confidence in the quality of patient care we provide.” It states that you should not post relevant experiences or materials.
The policy also discourages posting photos or videos taken on hospital grounds while on duty, according to an email from Wood.
“Patient safety, privacy and care are top priorities for Salem Health and we will not tolerate any activity or behavior that violates these principles. In everything we do, we earn the trust and confidence of our community. Caregivers employed by Salem Health are expected to practice the values of compassion and empathy in their work. , does not reflect the position of the hardworking, dedicated and caring caregivers who work here.”
Please contact reporter Abby McDonald. [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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