Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Square?    

I work at Penn Medicine, but I didn't get a username and password for the Square yet.  Why is this?

Can I discuss patient information on The Square?

Do other organizations have sites like The Square?

Is The Square anonymous?

Does what I say on The Square first need to be approved before it is posted?

How often can I use the Square at work?

Can I log-in to The Square from home?

What about my mobile device?

What is the Square?

The Square is a new way for the people of Penn Medicine to talk to each other -  creating solutions to our shared challenges.  Built by a staff at Penn Medicine on established principles of design found in “Web 2.0” sites and incorporating unique processes and staffing to support innovation, we believe The Square can be a useful communication tool for Penn Medicine, and that it can make real and lasting contributions to the ways Penn Medicine delivers care to our patients and their families.

I work at Penn Medicine, but I didn't get a username and password yet.  Why is this?

Right now, we're testing The Square with a limited group of employees – the Pilot Group.  This pilot will help us understand what’s working well, and what needs to be refined.  That way, once we invite more Penn Medicine employees to The Square, the site will have been improved. 

There are two ways to become a member of The Square, if you are not a part of the Pilot Group.   The first is to be invited by a member of the pilot, through the "Invite a Colleague" function on The Square.  If you have received an invitation, a member of The Square team will be personally reaching out to you soon with your login details.  If you are a Penn Medicine employee who has not yet received an invitation, but want to be a part of The Square, you may request access by clicking here. 

Can I discuss patient information on The Square?

On The Square, employees must comply with all applicable privacy and security laws including but not limited to The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), federal and state laws regarding privacy of information and data, and and UPHS and School of Medicine policies.  To learn more about HIPAA click here.  To read UPHS policies on HIPAA, click here.  Please note you must be able to access the UPHS intranet to review the UPHS policies.

Do other organizations have sites like The Square?

Yes.  A growing number of businesses and organizations are building social media sites that allow their employees to contribute their ideas and collaborate with one another in new ways.  Organizations like the US Department of Defense, Cisco and Kaiser Permanente are providing their employees with similar tools.  In the future, tools like The Square will become commonplace at work - as have technologies like the fax machine and e-mail.  We're ahead of the curve, but isn't that a good place to be?

Is The Square anonymous?

No.  On The Square, we expect people to stand behind what they say.  This will help ensure that a level of professionalism and decorum is upheld, but more importantly, it will allow us to recognize who came up with that great idea or contributed to an interesting discussion on The Square.  In the Groups and Discussions section, however, there are privacy settings that allow you to determine which of your colleagues can view or join certain discussions. 

Does what I say on The Square first need to be approved before it is posted?

No.  But we expect that what you say on The Square reflects what a smart and wonderful person you are.  Inappropriate activity will not be tolerated, and we do have a staff that monitors the site to make sure the conversations are positive.  To learn more about rules and etiquette on The Square, click here. 

How often can I use the Square at work?

The Square is a work tool.  However, it's important that it not get in the way of your primary work responsibilities.  We encourage you to talk with your manager about how The Square can fit in with your department, team, or unit's day-to-day activities. 

Can I log-in to The Square from home?

Yes.  If you have a username and password, you can login from anywhere, including your home.  

What about my mobile device?

The Square has some mobile capability now.  We'll be working to add additional mobile features to make sure that you can have a rich experience on the go!