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Social Media Policy & Guidelines

The Centra Health system is represented on social media outlets including, but not limited to, blogs a workforce member develops, articles, blogs or sites on which a Centra workforce member comments, social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest, online chat rooms, and other internet sites.

Our approach

The following is a full guide for social media practices, as well as policies of which to be aware. This policies applies to the entire Centra healthsystem and all Caregivers. To provide guidelines for the use of social media by Centra workforce members, including but not limited to credentialed and/or privileged providers (whether employed or non-employed), employees, Board members, contractors, students and volunteers.


Centra currently has a presence on the following Marketing operated platforms:

Social Media Policy

Social media encompasses a broad sweep of online computer activity, all of which is trackable and traceable. When Centra caregivers identify themselves as working for Centra on social media, they must show respect for others in their communications. Information shared via social media is generally public information; Centra Caregivers must exercise caution regarding exaggeration, obscenity, copyrighted materials, legal conclusions, and derogatory remarks or characterizations in any way related to Centra, its services, patients, vendors and caregivers. 

All Centra caregivers must abide by Centra’s Social Media Policy, and must always: 

  1. Ensure that Social Media activity does not interfere with work commitments and responsibilities, involves only an incidental amount of your time, and complies fully with Centra policies. Caregivers are on notice that all internet activity at Centra is monitored. Visiting and participating in any Centra-sponsored social media site is purely voluntary.
  2. Comply with all laws and regulations; do not transmit any material (by uploading, posting, email otherwise) that is unlawful, disruptive, threatening, profane, abusive, harassing, embarrassing, tortuous, defamatory, obscene, libelous, invades another's privacy, or is racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, all of which is determined by Centra at its sole discretion. Do not impersonate any personor entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent an affiliation with a person or entity. 
  3. Make it clear in all Social Media posts that such post strictly represents the opinion of the caregiver and has neither been endorsed by nor is necessarily the position of Centra. For example: “I work at Centra, but these comments are my own.”
  4. Alert his/her supervisor and contact the Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department before responding if someone from the media or press contacts them about posts made in Social Media related to Centra in any way.
  5. Do not disclose, post or repost images or videos of any of Centra’s trade secrets, confidential business information or processes.
  6. Be thoughtful, maintain a respectful discourse and use good judgment about how they present themselves as a Centra caregiver, whether posting to their own sites or commenting on others’ sites.

Specific guidelines:

  • Do not post any content that is vulgar, obscene, threatening, defamatory or in violation of Centra’s policies. Do not post images of yourself that depicts you engaging in any conduct that violates a Centra policy.
  • Do not make knowingly false statements about Centra or the services of its vendors or competitors.
  • Do not post statements, photos or videos which may adversely reflect on Centra, impact Centra’s reputation, or disparage Centra, its employees or its patients.
  • Do not use any Centra branding, including but not limited to the Centra logo, without written permission from the Centra Marketing, Communications or Public Relations department.
  • Do not discuss confidential and/or patient-related information.

Based on security concerns, Centra reserves the right to monitor Social Media posts when Centra is mentioned. If you believe someone is in violation of this policy, it is your responsibility to speak up. Please contact the Human Resources or Centra Marketing, Communication and Public Relations departments. Centra prohibits taking adverse action against any Caregiver for reporting a possible violation of this policy in good faith, or for cooperating in an investigation.

All representations on behalf of Centra in social media platforms, including private unit/department specific pages, must be initiated and authorized by the Centra Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department. This includes all Centra websites and platforms. All social media platforms created without prior authorization from the Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department are subject to review and may be amended or removed.

Centra regularly monitors all social media to ensure compliance with this policy and others, and to ensure safety for all caregivers and patients. This policy does not apply to communications made by Centra caregivers concerning a labor dispute or other communications protected by the National Labor Relations Act.

Specific departments/units are not permitted to have a social media presence including, but not limited to, public Facebook pages, Reddit groups, Discord servers, YouTube Channels, TikTok accounts, etc. This is in following with the mandate to have a present the health system as "One Centra" and in keeping with industry best-practice. Groups with the Centra related, public facing social media presence will no longer be grandfathered in to keeping those accounts as of the publishing of this guidance. Upon contact by Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department, departments are to relinquish control and logins of any/all social media accounts.

If a specific department/unit within Centra requests a private social media presence (eg: private Facebook Group), a formal application and review process is required. Applications and guidelines are available from the Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department. Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department must be added as a member and co-administrator of all approved private groups.

Caregivers are responsible for adhering to the social media policy. Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Violations of this policy must be immediately reported to a supervisor, Human Resources and the Marketing, Communications and Public Relations department.