A Salem Health employee is under investigation after posting a video that appears to mock the sound of a patient in pain.
In a video posted to Twitter, the emergency department technician looks into the camera and appears to be annoyed as a patient can be heard groaning in pain off-screen.
The caption reads “When a patient has poor coping skills,” according to a screen recording of the tweet posted Monday morning.
The employee’s Twitter account, and the original video, have since been deleted. They did not respond to a request for comment via an Instagram message from Salem Reporter Tuesday.
The video has drawn criticism on Twitter, and a TikTok from a popular user reacting to the video has gotten over 500,000 likes as of Tuesday afternoon.
Salem Health posted a response on its social media accounts Monday evening, saying “This individual does not speak for Salem Health. The employee is under investigation and is not working during the investigation.”
The hospital verified that the person in the video worked as an Emergency Department Technician when the investigation began. They have an active CNA license listed by the state, set to expire January of 2024.
Salem Reporter is not naming the employee because the investigation has not concluded and no disciplinary action has been taken.
The employee identified in the video is being investigated for violating the hospital’s patient privacy and social media policies, according to an email from Lisa Wood, Salem Health spokeswoman.
The hospital’s social media policy states that employees should not post any patient-related experiences or material “that could reasonably cause community members to lose confidence in the quality of patient care that we provide,” even without including protected health information.
The policy also advises against posting any photos or videos taken on hospital property while at work, according to an email from Wood.
“The safety, privacy and care of our patients is Salem Health’s top priority, and we do not tolerate activities or behaviors that undermine these principles. In everything we do, we strive to earn and protect the community’s trust and confidence. Caregivers employed at Salem Health are expected to live out the values of compassion and empathy in their work. This one careless action does not reflect the position of Salem Health or the hardworking, dedicated and compassionate caregivers who work here,” the emailed statement said.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
