Opinions
Is There A Role for Social Media in the Practice of Medicine?
Social media is nothing new to many of us, many have Facebook accounts. For example, on Facebook, we may be posting our vacation pictures or brag about our latest accomplishments, but the question remains for those in the healthcare field — “Is there a role for social media in the practice of Medicine?”
Social media, according to Wikipedia, includes “web-based and mobile technologies used to turn communication into interactive dialogue.” These are online tools that people use to share content, media, profiles, etc. to facilitate conversation and interaction. Notice the keywords: conversation, interaction. For an online article, people are not just passive readers. They can react, interact and start or continue a conversation.
There are several social media tools to cater different needs. The usual ones include Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and LinkedIn. But the question remains for doctors: Is there a role for social media in the practice of their profession?
Allow me to answer this question in terms of the Five-Star Physician.
You see, a Five-Star Physician is SMART — a Social Mobilizer, Manager, A Healthcare Provider, Researcher and a Teacher or educator.
Social media tools can actually help physicians meet these characteristics of a Five-star Physician.
During the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong, social media played an important role in facilitating the delivery of relief goods, medicines and medical services to typhoon-affected areas. Links to Google Person Finder and Google Crisis Map were spread through social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. These social media tools were able to mobilize people to send help.
Hashtag campaigns being used by companies to promote their products through Twitter can also be tapped by healthcare professionals to mobilize communities in promoting advocacies like breast cancer and cervical cancer awareness. Youtube can show videos to get the support of subscribers in a health advocacy also.
To manage medical societies, Google or Facebook groups can be formed. Many non-medical groups have already done this. Google Docs can also help with links to files shared to people concerned in the social media network groups.
Websites integrated to social media networking sites and armed with social bookmarking icons have drawn customers or clients closer to a brand. The same can be done by hospitals or clinics. Not only will the community be informed about what’s the latest in an institution but the latter will also benefit from patients’ or the community’s feedback. This is to ensure the best quality patient care and services are provided to patients.
Social media tools can also help health researchers.
Twitter makes it possible for researchers to interact with fellow researchers even the world-renowned ones. Researchers can be updated with the latest in a particular topic in real time by following reliable medical websites or physicians in Twitter. Links to interesting articles shared in Facebook or Twitter for example, also help keep doctors updated.
Social media provides tools for educating people. Slides made for conventions can be shared through Slideshare. UStream can cover and show also conventions, seminars or learning events. People can read public health articles. Readers can be educated in the process through informative blog posts. Likewise, they can learn from articles shared through Facebook or Twitter.
The above are just a few examples showing that social media goes beyond chatting or sharing vacation photos. Social media does have a role in the practice of medicine. However, it cannot be denied that there are also potential dangers with its use.
Privacy and confidentiality issues have to be taken into consideration by healthcare professionals making posts in social media.
Physicians should be all the more conscious with their online image as a careless post or an embarrassing picture may affect it. Applications for a residency slot may be affected by “damaging” posts.
Inaccurate information shared by medical bloggers may have damaging effects to readers.
In summary, social media indeed has a role in the practice of Medicine. But physicians and other health professionals should be extra careful when they use social media for irresponsible use can have negative consequences both to the healthcare professional and the readers or patients.
Social media is a powerful tool to mobilize people, manage groups, build relationships and communities, update knowledge, and educate individuals. However, one has to think before finally posting something in social media.
As Uncle Ben Parker of Spiderman said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
