The broad reach of social media puts healthcare professionals in a prime position to drive better healthcare outcomes through different channels. Let’s have a look at what is included under the social media umbrella for physicians:
By number of users, Facebook is presently the largest social network based on numbers of monthly active users. It enables users to have detailed and engaging interactions and encourages conversations and connections among individuals and organizations. Users can easily share links and useful information.
It’s a social media platform which is a more professionally oriented and helps strengthen connections. Healthcare providers should set up their professional profiles on LinkedIn and update it on regular basis. Joining groups on LinkedIn can give you better online visibility.
Twitter is an effective broadcasting platform with allows 140 character user-generated comments or ‘tweets’. It promotes real-time sharing of information with other users with high viral possibilities.
Blogs
Blogs created using web services such as Blogger (https://www.blogger.com) and WordPress (https://wordpress.org) will not only help tap potential patients from the crowd of online health information viewers, but will also help you create online visibility. Industry experts suggest that blogging and business growth are directly proportional. In fact, it’s a smart way of selling your practice to online viewers who can see your expertise, area of specialization, experience and your ideas on treatment options for various health ailments.
In the healthcare industry, the most essential aspects are credibility and trust. For physicians, developing positive relationships with patients is imperative. If your blogs provide well-written valuable information, readers will definitely appreciate it. As blogs are not very formal in nature, the casual forum gives a sense of personal touch to patients. You also get to know about patient insights in many valuable aspects, which help you to be better-equipped to understand the challenges they face and solutions they are looking for. Blogs also fulfil a great purpose of helping readers lead healthier lives.
YouTube
YouTube is an amazing video-sharing website favored by physicians for highly informative, detail-orientated videos. It allows physicians to connect with their patients and provide them scientifically accurate information in a video format. Users can view, comment, upload and share videos and they can be linked to other social networks.
The role of social networks in the field of healthcare has become critical for a patient’s lifelong health journey. As long as physicians use social media in an ethical and professional manner, they can benefit both patients and colleagues, enhance their own reputations and help to lead the revolution in this area.