Social Media in Healthcare Examples

[Albert Maruggi]

First let me start by saying I will be 50 in December and my father-in-law was a gifted heart surgeon in St. Paul, MN He is long retired and has clear opinions about the direction healthcare has taken in the last 20 years.

Because of my proximity to such a medical resource, I have not had to use other sources for healthcare decisions. However, I also see some of the benefits of social media in healthcare.

I speak often about social media issues. I believe there are three external factors forcing hospitals to embrace social media. 1) Political pressure, 2) greater public access to healthcare information 3) cost containment & performance

I would be delighted to learn about how social media, that is, blogs, podcasting, video, and social networks are impacting the way hospitals deliver or promote their services.

thanks much for your time.

[Pattie]

I think social media can be a great tool for people to use when making health care decisions. Patients now have access to so much information about health problems and healthcare providers. Doctors and other healthcare providers can use social media too dialog with other other people in the industry and share information.

I did a quick search of healthcare to find some what social media stuff is out there. There seems to be alot of resources for patients and doctors. I even found one hospital that is using social media promote awareness of positive stories involving patients and doctors.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3ZGCrzTUp40

[Albert Maruggi]

Oh my God, Pattie, I cried through the entire video. I have five kids. Amazing story and people. thanks for sharing

[Tony]

I've written on this on hospitalimpact.org quite extensively. Check out a few links here:
Healthcare and social media I
Healthcare and social media II
Examples of Hospitals using social media

Overall, I'd say hospitals are behind other industries, but some may also be surprised at some very savvy adopters.

[Albert Maruggi]

Tony, I realize you have written on the topic. You do an outstanding job and I did reference you and your site to the MN Hospital Association in a presentation to their Trustee Conference. I also interviewed Elizabeth Tracey from Johns Hopkins, a physician who uses Sermo, and one of the founders of the Sean Keterling Foundation for testicular cancer, they produced one of the most viewed educational videos on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_nK1CEo5ho

Levy's blog is outstanding. The day I gave my presentation was the day US News released its top hospitals article. I showed the audience the piece by Avery Comarow of US News on the Best Hospitals as he referenced Paul Levy's blog about wrong site surgery the week before the US News article was to appear.

Tony, great job and if you have time, I'd like to have you as a guest on my podcast the Marketing Edge to chat about social media in healthcare.


All the best,

Albert