How Physicians Use Social Media In Medicine

The New Social Media :The New Social Media How Physicians Can Use Social Media to Improve Medicine Jason Bhan, MD June 27, 2008


Learning Objectives :Learning Objectives Define Social Media Understand the uses of Social Media in Healthcare Know how to implement Social Media into your practice of medicine


What is Social Media? :What is Social Media? The various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio + the Community it involves


Examples of Social Media applications include :Examples of Social Media applications include Communication Blogs Social Networking Micro-blogging/presence Collaboration Wikis Social Bookmarking Opinion and Ratings Multimedia Audio/Video/Photo


Facebook :Facebook


Wikipedia :Wikipedia


Linkedin :Linkedin


YouTube :YouTube


Medicine and Healthcare generally lag behind in technology adoption but things are changing :Medicine and Healthcare generally lag behind in technology adoption but things are changing 100% - 90% - 80% - 70% - 60% - 50% - 40% - 30% - 20% - 10% - 2001 2003 2005 2006 Internet is Essential to My Practice Internet Improves Clinical Knowledge Percentage of Physicians Agreeing With Statement From Manhattan Research Taking the Pulse V6 (2006) Percentage of Physician Online Activity


Now Medicine is beginning to take advantage of Social Media :Now Medicine is beginning to take advantage of Social Media 2004 2008


The first on the scene was the empowered patient :The first on the scene was the empowered patient Patients are participating in online communities to share and discuss daily life struggles to coping with rare diseases


Then, savvy physicians began to engage their patients :Then, savvy physicians began to engage their patients Blogs Expert Q&A sites Video


Now, Physicians are collaborating with other Physicians :Now, Physicians are collaborating with other Physicians Learning in real time from peers across geographies and across specialties Sharing ideas discussing new practices Accessing collective insights and experience from a broader group Disseminating information more quickly and more efficiently


The reality of the Social Web :The reality of the Social Web Our patients are interacting with other Patients and other Physicians online Physicians are learning every day from each other in new and innovative ways


Now, more and more physicians are embracing social media :Now, more and more physicians are embracing social media Percentage of Physician Online Activity Physicians 2007 800,000 (93% of All Physicians are Online) Use internet during patient consultation 142,000 Users of new media (blogs, video, audio) 487,000 Use Search Engines to find medical information 610,000 Where do we learn about social media? On our own? Conferences? The Internet? From Manhattan Research Taking the Pulse V6 (2006),


Throughout medical school and residency, we learn in groups :Throughout medical school and residency, we learn in groups But the training is focused on self-learning and self-reliance Critical appraisal of medical literature Use of EBM tools Internet Searches How to use a phone


There is a giant transition as we move from Residency to Reality :There is a giant transition as we move from Residency to Reality Isolation Steep Learning Curve Information overload Complete shift of focus


We tend to get buried in the day to day - and acquire habits :We tend to get buried in the day to day - and acquire habits Read the same journals Practice the same medicine Interact with the same physicians


The world of social media offers new tools to break out from the old practice :The world of social media offers new tools to break out from the old practice Blogs Physician Collaboration Video and Podcasts


What do Physicians blog about? :What do Physicians blog about? Informative health updates Personal stories Healthcare Technology Other areas of clinical or practice interest Physicians may blog to patients, to the general public, or to each other


Before you blog :Before you blog Who are you blogging to? A blog is a tool for Communication Peers Patients Family Can you commit the time? Regular updates (at least 1 post every 1-2 weeks) Can you provide interesting content?


Be careful, we are not the general public :Be careful, we are not the general public The Story of Dr. Flea Blog by an anonymous pediatrician "in solo practice in the Northeast U.S." Take liability concerns to heart, be smart Polarizing Topics


What is the purpose of Physician Collaboration through Social Media :What is the purpose of Physician Collaboration through Social Media Accessing the collective wisdom of your peers Asking Questions Social Bookmarking Case Presentations Wiki Collaboration Networking Know who you are collaborating with Build a referral base or network


There are known benefits of Peer Collaboration :There are known benefits of Peer Collaboration These exchanges allow us to mix evidence with experience Have meaningful exchanges with our peers more frequently Connect the Tower with the Trenches


And some questions still to be answered :And some questions still to be answered Does access to an online collaborative environment help physicians learn better What influence does social networking have on behavior change


What factors can influence the utility of a physician social media site? :What factors can influence the utility of a physician social media site? Security Anonymity Expert Community Trust Tools/Features


Options for Physician Collaboration :Options for Physician Collaboration


Wikis :Wikis Physician Wiki Participation Should we use Wikipedia or a specific physician centered wiki? Who should have access? Should there be editorial oversight?


An example of medically focused social media :An example of medically focused social media


An example of physician to patient communication :An example of physician to patient communication


The Choice is Yours :The Choice is Yours Engage your patients and your peers Access a larger community Share your experience with others Be a part of the force transforming medicine


Connect with Me :Connect with Me Email jmbhan@gmail.com www.ozmosis.com jason www.twitter.com jmbhan www.facebook.com http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Ozmosis/ www.linkedin.com