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Social media in medicine

479 articles · Since 2007

Articles, page 5

How Twitter is a vital tool in medicine

Recently, Twitter exploded with angry commentary directed at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) after the organization actively attempted to censor what was posted on Twitter during their annual sessions in San Diego. The fiasco began when an attendee posted a…

Recently, Twitter exploded with angry commentary directed at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) after the organization actively attempted to censor what was posted on Twitter during their annual sessions in San Diego. The fiasco began when an attendee posted a picture of slides on Twitter — in an attempt to “live Tweet” during a session on the recommended #ADA2017 hashtag. The @AmDiabetesAssn Twitter feed then …

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How Twitter is a vital tool in medicine

A diabetes forum tried to lock down photo sharing. Twitter wasn’t happy.

Attendees at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in San Diego this year — many of them young researchers who are active on social media — were surprised to be greeted with the following: “Thanks for joining us at #2017ADA!…

Attendees at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in San Diego this year — many of them young researchers who are active on social media — were surprised to be greeted with the following: “Thanks for joining us at #2017ADA! Photography isn’t allowed during presentations — we’d appreciate it if you’d delete this tweet.”

For many, the essence of gathering at conferences is the sharing of scientific information, a peek at …

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A diabetes forum tried to lock down photo sharing. Twitter wasn’t happy.

Physician engagement in social media is time well spent

Physicians have always been teachers, educating patients and families in the exam room, sharing handouts, hanging posters, and sometimes writing magazine articles and self-help books. Today, we have another communication tool, one that is far-reaching with significant impact: social media.…

Physicians have always been teachers, educating patients and families in the exam room, sharing handouts, hanging posters, and sometimes writing magazine articles and self-help books. Today, we have another communication tool, one that is far-reaching with significant impact: social media.

Americans use social media to consume massive amounts of digital content. The problem is much of it is misinformation, which is why it’s important for physicians to jump in and lend …

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Physician engagement in social media is time well spent

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What your practice can learn from the Instagram effect on restaurants

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Innovative technologies and shifting public expectations are altering the practices of many industries, particularly those that provide a service. Medical practices should take heed and recognize these trends or risk losing patients and market share to others more open to…

Innovative technologies and shifting public expectations are altering the practices of many industries, particularly those that provide a service. Medical practices should take heed and recognize these trends or risk losing patients and market share to others more open to adopting new strategies.

How does one differentiate a high-performing medical practice from another that’s falling behind? And what are the forces that drive the discrepancy? What strategies can your practice implement …

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What your practice can learn from the Instagram effect on restaurants

Physicians behaving badly on Twitter

At a time when physicians are feeling besieged on all sides, it hardly seems fair to write about the lack of civility demonstrated by some members of the profession on social media in Canada. But it’s still an important issue…

At a time when physicians are feeling besieged on all sides, it hardly seems fair to write about the lack of civility demonstrated by some members of the profession on social media in Canada.

But it’s still an important issue that needs to be addressed — with the caveat that no profession or segment of society is blameless and the focus is due to the focus of this particular blog.

The post …

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Physicians behaving badly on Twitter

Doctors can learn something from United’s woes

By now, we have all seen the cell phone footage of a doctor being dragged off a United Airlines flight. I’ve seen it on Twitter, on Facebook, on cable news and read about it in the printed press. I’ve been…

By now, we have all seen the cell phone footage of a doctor being dragged off a United Airlines flight. I’ve seen it on Twitter, on Facebook, on cable news and read about it in the printed press. I’ve been texted links to the various videos each from different angles but all showing the same images — a man being dragged away with a bloody face. This has prompted quite …

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Doctors can learn something from United’s woes

Successful doctors will find meaningful ways to use social media to engage patients and colleagues

Look me up. I’m on Twitter (@MattDynamic). This isn’t particularly remarkable. In fact, there are 313 million other active Twitter users. But for me, it is remarkable and a major departure from my past behavior. As a resident, I am…

Look me up. I’m on Twitter (@MattDynamic). This isn’t particularly remarkable. In fact, there are 313 million other active Twitter users. But for me, it is remarkable and a major departure from my past behavior.

As a resident, I am bombarded by messages about the dangers of Twitter and, more broadly, social media. I have sat through many HIPAA and human resource meetings with dire warnings to not post …

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Successful doctors will find meaningful ways to use social media to engage patients and colleagues

Anonymous social networks expose the dark underbelly in medicine

I have been a member of a social network for physicians since 2008 or 2009. It’s a network that bills itself as a “virtual doctors’ lounge” and “voice of physicians.” I joined because I thought it would be a great…

I have been a member of a social network for physicians since 2008 or 2009. It’s a network that bills itself as a “virtual doctors’ lounge” and “voice of physicians.”  I joined because I thought it would be a great place to continue to interact with my peers, after I’d left the collegiality of medical school and residency behind for private practice.

I’m not sure what subset of physicians participates, but …

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Anonymous social networks expose the dark underbelly in medicine

It is critical for physicians to use their long-held trust wisely

During sports physical appointments, I routinely address preventive health topics that range from asking about alcohol, drugs, and sexuality, to addressing accident prevention and updating immunizations. At one such appointment recently, a young male teen was due for two routine…

During sports physical appointments, I routinely address preventive health topics that range from asking about alcohol, drugs, and sexuality, to addressing accident prevention and updating immunizations.  At one such appointment recently, a young male teen was due for two routine vaccines.  The mother accompanying him had no concerns about one of the vaccines, but expressed concern about the other. A friend had recently shared information on Facebook about how the …

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It is critical for physicians to use their long-held trust wisely

How I used Twitter to get promoted in academic medicine

As I met with the vice dean of academic affairs to discuss my readiness for promotion from assistant to associate professor of pediatrics, I led with the usual list of accomplishments. After all, I thought I was pretty well rounded,…

As I met with the vice dean of academic affairs to discuss my readiness for promotion from assistant to associate professor of pediatrics, I led with the usual list of accomplishments. After all, I thought I was pretty well rounded, with achievements in teaching, patient care, institutional service, quality improvement, and research. Unfortunately, this meeting was not going as I had hoped and I sensed ambivalence from the other end …

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How I used Twitter to get promoted in academic medicine

Have the flu? Tweet it. Diarrhea? Review it. Help identify outbreaks.

When it comes to social media, oversharing is the new norm. When #flu season comes around, everyone on Twitter becomes inundated with talk of runny noses, strangers sneezing on their morning commute bus ride, and avoidance of the airport. People…

When it comes to social media, oversharing is the new norm. When #flu season comes around, everyone on Twitter becomes inundated with talk of runny noses, strangers sneezing on their morning commute bus ride, and avoidance of the airport. People update their statuses on their interactions, frustrations, struggles and even locations. When a friend is not feeling well, they may post about it on social media and get an instant …

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Have the flu? Tweet it. Diarrhea? Review it. Help identify outbreaks.

Google thinks I sell mobile homes. But I’m a hernia surgeon.

Are you 100 percent sure your customers know where you are located? If you are like me, you think the answer is an obvious "yes." But in reality, I did not have a clue because I wasn't aware of local…

Are you 100 percent sure your customers know where you are located? If you are like me, you think the answer is an obvious “yes.” But in reality, I did not have a clue because I wasn’t aware of local SEO.

SEO, traffic and ranking on the “first page of Google” are what marketing agencies stress to physicians, but I found out there is a side branch of SEO called local …

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Google thinks I sell mobile homes. But I’m a hernia surgeon.

Can the anti-vaccine movement be convinced with more positive messages?

In the hallway the other day a colleague stopped me and said, "Hey, do you want to see something funny?" "Sure," I said, and he showed me the YouTube video called "How Anti-Vaxxers Sound to Normal People." The video highlighted…

In the hallway the other day a colleague stopped me and said, “Hey, do you want to see something funny?”

“Sure,” I said, and he showed me the YouTube video called “How Anti-Vaxxers Sound to Normal People.”  The video highlighted that those who choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children do so for reasons that do not make sense, and frankly seem somewhat absurd.  It is a …

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Can the anti-vaccine movement be convinced with more positive messages?

There are two sides to every story. Unless it’s on Facebook.

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There’s an old saying from the country where my mother was born relating to certain situations in which we are helpless. “You have to prove your sister is a not prostitute when you don’t even have a sister.” It seemed…

There’s an old saying from the country where my mother was born relating to certain situations in which we are helpless. “You have to prove your sister is a not prostitute when you don’t even have a sister.” It seemed rough to me at first, when I heard it. But when I gave it some thought, it actually made sense and scared me at the same time.

I woke up this …

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There are two sides to every story. Unless it’s on Facebook.

Is it time to change the way we use social media in medicine?

It’s no secret that social media has now consumed most of our lives. It’s everywhere and there’s really no avoiding it. Don’t get me wrong, social media is a powerful tool and when used appropriately a lot of good things…

It’s no secret that social media has now consumed most of our lives. It’s everywhere and there’s really no avoiding it. Don’t get me wrong, social media is a powerful tool and when used appropriately a lot of good things can come out of it. For instance, as a medical student who moved from New York to Los Angeles, it helps me stay connected to my loved ones back home.

However, …

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Is it time to change the way we use social media in medicine?

How social media changed this oncologist’s life

I have been drawn to social media (SM) both personally and professionally for many years now, but I still feel like an outlier in using it professionally. There have been ASCO education sessions on this topic, educational book articles, publications,…

asco-logo I have been drawn to social media (SM) both personally and professionally for many years now, but I still feel like an outlier in using it professionally. There have been ASCO education sessions on this topic, educational book articles, publications, and the like, but many of these take the approach that people don’t really understand SM and what …

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How social media changed this oncologist’s life

A warning against crowdsourcing your medical care on social media

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Whether big questions or small, medically related or otherwise, social media users love to take their ponderings and perplexities to their friends to gather advice. Certainly, social media is a great place to poll opinions about the latest movie or…

Whether big questions or small, medically related or otherwise, social media users love to take their ponderings and perplexities to their friends to gather advice. Certainly, social media is a great place to poll opinions about the latest movie or book.

Sure, some might find asking friends for medical advice online easier than going to the doctor. Some might even feel that this collective problem solving protects them if they believe …

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A warning against crowdsourcing your medical care on social media

Why patient education needs to be more YouTube-friendly

As I sat on the edge of her bed discussing delivering options, a sweet mom of twins (who we had decided to welcome to the world at just a few pounds each) looked at me and asked a question that…

As I sat on the edge of her bed discussing delivering options, a sweet mom of twins (who we had decided to welcome to the world at just a few pounds each) looked at me and asked a question that many of us are asked: “What’s safest? What would you do if it were you?”

Most of the time we present options as best we can. If one is clearly the …

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Why patient education needs to be more YouTube-friendly

Doctors should use social media strategically. Here’s why.

The best defense is a good offense. This is certainly true when it comes to online reputation and digital presence. Doctors should be using social media and other online platforms strategically. Health care institutions without a medical professional as a…

The best defense is a good offense.

This is certainly true when it comes to online reputation and digital presence. Doctors should be using social media and other online platforms strategically.  Health care institutions without a medical professional as a social media strategist are taking a huge gamble.

Imagine a politically polarizing communication related to your organization that was not intended to be public, but was leaked and widely circulated on the internet. …

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Doctors should use social media strategically. Here’s why.

Social media is a powerful way to humanize physicians

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A continuing series on physician online reputation. Created in partnership with the Doctors Company as part of their social media resources for physicians. It's important to share the stories of health care professionals, because sometimes the media paints a negative…

A continuing series on physician online reputation.  Created in partnership with the Doctors Company as part of their social media resources for physicians. 

It’s important to share the stories of health care professionals, because sometimes the media paints a negative portrayal of the medical professional.

I once wrote a column in USA Today talking about chronic pain management and how both doctors and …

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Social media is a powerful way to humanize physicians

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