MED3OOO Clinical Newsletter - February 2010

“SOCIAL NETWORKING MEDIA AND MEDICINE”

By Paul McLeod, M.D., MED3OOO Chief Medical Executive 

I confess, I do not have a Facebook account.  Obviously there is something wrong with my thinking, since virtually everyone I know has one.  While not averse to new and innovative technology, I am concerned about the vast distribution of information on a site like this, and I am simply not ready to share personal information about myself with everyone in the world.  I think, in time, I will come around.

Ed Bennett is Director of Web Strategy at the University of Maryland Medical Center.  You read that correctly, this University Medical Center has a web strategy.  He has been instrumental in creating YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for the University, as well as a recent survey of best practices.

According to Mr. Bennett, social networking appeals to the mases because it is more like a conversation than a lecture, is group driven, and is really just an extension of everyday interactions over the web.  Hospitals have suddenly become interested in this electronic tool for use in customer service, community outreach, patient education, public relations, and even crisis communication.  The number of hospitals with YouTube and Twitter accounts is growing exponentially as they document the number of visitors to their accounts and how that may differentiate them from the competition.  The Maryland Medical Center has over 100 videos available on YouTube that are viewed hundreds of times a day.  As a matter of fact, the hospital web site gets 75,000 visitors a day.  That is an amazing number.  Health care systems are finding social networking to be a valuable part of their marketing strategy.

Social networking is also making its way into the physician-patient relationship, as noted in the August 13, 2009, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.  In an article by Sachin Jain, M.D., titled “Practicing Medicine in The Age of Facebook,” the author relates an uncomfortable dilemma in which a former patient (for whom he had delivered a child) asked to be his “friend.”  Needless to say, the author struggled with the request.  As a Facebook friend, the former patient would have access to personal information like photographs and online conversations around a multitude of non-medical topics.  Physicians will need to determine the appropriateness of this type of interaction and the potential pitfalls.  This may be an area of technology in which early adoption for some could prove to be risky. 

MED3OOO can help physicians and health care systems differentiate themselves based on measurable quality outcomes, both clinical and financial.  We stay abreast of issues affecting physician practices and develop operational and technology solutions to keep our clients ahead of the curve.  You can contact us at www.MED3000.com.  And, by the way, you will also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Patient Recall – MED3OOO/Connect Patient Outreach Powered by Phytel

Is your patient volume down? Are your patients neglecting their routine and preventive care?  Do you need to reconnect with patients that have not been seen in over a year?  Do you need to identify those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services?  If so, consider using our patient outreach MED3OOO/Connect technology powered by Phytel.  MED3OOO/Connect can automate the process of identifying those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services.  If you would like to proactively reach out to your patients with an automated patient recall process, please contact your account manager or Scott Madden at Scott_Madden@MED3000.com.

For a printable version of this newsletter click here: Clinical Feb2010

The Clinical Advisory is a clinical publication from MED3OOO dedicated to informing physicians and clinical staff about tools and information to improve the quality of patient care.


Corporate Headquarters: MED3OOO Inc., 680 Andersen Drive, Foster Plaza 10, Pittsburgh PA 15220. For more information on our clinical initiatives visit www.MED3000.com or contact marketing@MED3000.com or 1-888-811-2411.