Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The Internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultations

Mark Britton
Social media
January 26, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

As a physician, technology cannot replace you, but it can make you more efficient and effective.

This was the message from Richard Satava, MD, who spoke on the future of surgical technology at the recent Seattle Surgical Society Annual Meeting.  Dr. Satava’s speech was fascinating as he laid out the future for robotics, remote surgery, internal locomotion actuators, molecular imaging biosurgery, etc.  I looked over my shoulder a couple of times to make sure that I had not mistakenly joined a Star Trek convention.

Dr. Satava made it clear that none of this technology could replace the physicians themselves.  He spoke eloquently regarding all of the ways that technology falls short in diagnosing, treating and simply caring for patients.  Technology would only make physicians more efficient and effective.

Dr. Satava’s message applies to social media as well.  While nothing will ever replace in-person, real-time office visits, physicians can use social media to increase the efficiency and efficacy of patient visits.  Many physicians are skeptical about this (believe me, I spoke on social media immediately after Dr. Satava), for they see the Internet as a source of misinformation and misdiagnosis that hurts more than helps.

For those skeptics, let me offer the following:

  • 80% of Internet users search for health information online
  • 44% research doctors online
  • 43% ask questions in online forums
  • 45% ask questions to be better prepared for a physician visit
  • 13 minutes:  Average duration of a physician visit

Two things are happening here:  Patients are feeling empowered by the massive increase in plain-English, care-related information available on the Internet.  On the other hand, they are feeling disempowered by the traditional healthcare system that is reducing their time in the system and thus their ability to get care-related information directly from their doctor.

The result?  The Internet is the place where patients go for the pre-visit consultation.  And love it or hate it, physicians must figure out how to participate in the online conversation because its use will only continue to grow.  Patients can spend hours online researching their symptoms, looking at treatment photos and asking doctors questions about their condition.  They can research a doctor’s resume, awards, publications and even possible misconduct.  Occasional misinformation or not, this is far more patient-favorable compared to trying to cram the full-download into 13 minutes.

And, this should be physician-favorable as well.  Yes, it is painful when the patient comes in with the Internet printout and they are horribly self-misdiagnosed; but that is the exception.  The rule is that the patient comes in variably but incrementally smarter which speeds up the information exchange.  The patient asks more-informed questions and the physician gives more-tailored advice.

It is important to keep in mind that, like surgery robotics, a physician’s efficacy only increases the more he or she understands and utilizes the technology.  The more physicians can address commonly asked questions on a website; address common treatment issues in a video blog post; or even share their practice philosophy with prospective patients, the more efficient and effective the entire cycle of care will be.

Mark Britton is the founder and CEO of Avvo, a free resource that rates and profiles 90% of all doctors and lawyers in the U.S.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Our society expends huge sums on futile care

January 26, 2012 Kevin 18
…
Next

Physicians have a natural role as advocates

January 27, 2012 Kevin 5
…

Tagged as: Health IT, Patients

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Our society expends huge sums on futile care
Next Post >
Physicians have a natural role as advocates

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Mark Britton

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The physician Internet road does not need to be a rocky one

    Mark Britton
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Repairing the tear in health care’s safety net with social media

    Mark Britton
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    5 ways to make social media work for doctors and their patients

    Mark Britton

More in Social media

  • First impressions happen online—not in your exam room

    Sara Meyer
  • What teenagers on TikTok are saying about skin care—and why that’s a problem

    Khushali Jhaveri, MD
  • How social media and telemedicine are transforming patient care

    Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA
  • How DrKoop.com rose and fell: the untold story behind the Surgeon General’s startup

    Nigel Cameron, PhD
  • How I escaped the toxic grip of social media

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • Why doctors must fight health misinformation on social media

    Olapeju Simoyan, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • When credibility is your only asset: the cautionary tale of DrKoop.com [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • How robotics are reshaping the future of vascular procedures

      David Fischel | Conditions
    • Why gambling addiction is America’s next health crisis

      Safina Adatia, MD | Conditions
    • The man in seat 11A survived, but why don’t our patients?

      Dr. Vivek Podder | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • When credibility is your only asset: the cautionary tale of DrKoop.com [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why sleep is the missing pillar in modern health care

      Carlos Nunez, MD | Conditions
    • How a family’s strength led to a successful kidney transplant

      C. Nicole Swiner, MD | Conditions
    • The food-drug interaction risks your doctor may be missing

      Frank Jumbe | Meds
    • Beyond the TikTok hype: Rebuilding trust in evidence-based weight loss medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • The weaponization of rules: How regulatory overreach puts physicians and health care at risk

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 9 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • When credibility is your only asset: the cautionary tale of DrKoop.com [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • How robotics are reshaping the future of vascular procedures

      David Fischel | Conditions
    • Why gambling addiction is America’s next health crisis

      Safina Adatia, MD | Conditions
    • The man in seat 11A survived, but why don’t our patients?

      Dr. Vivek Podder | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why recovery after illness demands dignity, not suspicion

      Trisza Leann Ray, DO | Physician
    • Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Physician
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • When credibility is your only asset: the cautionary tale of DrKoop.com [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why sleep is the missing pillar in modern health care

      Carlos Nunez, MD | Conditions
    • How a family’s strength led to a successful kidney transplant

      C. Nicole Swiner, MD | Conditions
    • The food-drug interaction risks your doctor may be missing

      Frank Jumbe | Meds
    • Beyond the TikTok hype: Rebuilding trust in evidence-based weight loss medicine

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • The weaponization of rules: How regulatory overreach puts physicians and health care at risk

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The Internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultations
9 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...