Do you think it is okay for a Physician Assistant to be friends with a patient or follow a patient on any social media platforms?

While this question could be answered with a simple no, you'll have about six to eight minutes to respond during this session of your PA school multiple mini interview. This is a great opportunity to elaborate on the positives and negatives of social media and discuss your use of them.

While social media can be great for physicians and healthcare providers to network, share research, and promote their institutions, following or friending patients crosses a few lines that should not be crossed. Make sure your interviewer knows you understand those boundaries and are not willing to cross them.

"No, I do not think it is okay to have an online relationship with patients on social media platforms like Facebook and Snapchat. That line can get a little blurred on open sites like Instagram and Twitter, where posts are made public. As a Facebook user, I would never accept a friend request from a patient because that crosses the professional boundary. If somehow I were to be messaged by a patient on any social media platform for medical advice, my response would be to call my office or the general patient scheduling line. I would always take my professionalism on sites seriously as a PA student in your program. However, there are so many positive things that can come from sites like Twitter and Instagram. Following important research and networking with professionals in my specialty is something that I look forward to doing as a physician assistant."