Over the last few years, the concept of marketing has changed drastically. All thanks to social media! Today, people have channeled their social media interactions to find solutions to almost everything, from shopping products for their homes and offices to making up their mind for choosing a doctor for their health problems.
The speed at which the world of online marketing is changing is astonishing and continues to evolve each passing day. As physicians, if you lag behind in understanding and channeling the power of social media, your lost opportunity can be someone’s gain. People prefer booking an appointment with a physician who has an active online presence. Act before it’s too late and tap the power of this influential medium to connect and engage with your patients.
If you are new to social media, it can be a tough task to know what you should and shouldn’t do. To begin with, you can follow some tips given below:
Let’s begin with the basics:
- While interacting on social media, physicians should remember to be compliant with HIPAA guidelines. Patient privacy and identity should be kept highly confidential. Social media content is seen real time by millions around the world. Any violation can get noticed and travel like wildfire on social media, which can get a physician in trouble.
- Social media is a great tool for educating patients. Through this medium, you can directly or indirectly fulfil a great purpose of helping people lead healthier lives. Physicians can share disease prevention tips, general guidelines to lead a healthy life, educate people about healthy food habits, the latest treatment options for chronic diseases and so on. Patients and other readers can follow these on various social media channels, and the information can benefit them.
Pay attention to these 4 things: Program Evaluation Review Technique for physicians
A PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) chart is a project management tool used to schedule, organize and coordinate tasks within a project. From the healthcare perspective, physicians need to pay attention to these four parameters for maintaining a positive online reputation on social media:
P: Plan your presence on major social media channels and physician-review websites (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, RatemyMD, Vitals, Healthgrades and so on) and keep your practice website updated.
E: Engage patients through various channels such as blog posts, group discussions, posting informative materials and through direct communication wherever required.
R: Reputation analysis by conducting thorough research about your name and practice on Google and other major physician-review websites where patients can post their experiences and rate you.
T: Teach and train people to lead better lives by posting informative content on social media channels that can be inculcated in everyday life to bring about a lifestyle change toward a healthier life.
The Internet and social media have brought about a new approach in the dynamics of the physician-patient relationship. They not only enable physicians to have direct communication with patients, but also help them reach out to other potential patients, who may book an appointment after noticing a physician’s online presence. Therefore, for physicians, an online presence is an important step for building and maintaining an online reputation. Social media has revolutionized healthcare services and has put the patient in the driver’s seat. If done right, it is the best way to create awareness about your practice and build a connection with your patients/potential patients. It’s not just important; it’s a must for physicians now!