Social media

Don’t judge when trainees use dating apps in the hospital

Social media
January 17, 2019

During rounds, in between seeing patients, the medical student pulls out his phone and scans a dating app for new matches. In the team room, a resident opens Facebook before responding to a non-urgent page. Each of these instances may seem trivial enough, but I’ve seen both lead to poor evaluations, reprimands, or others whispering terms like “unprofessional.”

In the medical world, there’s an implicit understanding that while you’re at work, …

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How social media leads to a loss of creativity

Social media
December 12, 2018

I use social media.  Specifically, I use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  In the beginning, I did so for utilitarian purposes.  As a columnist and aspiring writer of books, these were (and indeed are) useful marketing tools.

I have, in the past, carried around a note-pad to jot down ideas.  I was never without my note-pad.  I always wanted a small legal-pad with a blue or black gel-ink pen.  It was my …

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6 ways physicians can improve their LinkedIn profile

Social media
October 22, 2018

This article is sponsored by Careers by KevinMD.com.

Whether you’re looking for a new position or just wanting to connect with colleagues, LinkedIn is a great resource to advance your career. As a healthcare professional, having an online presence can understandably make you uneasy, especially when it comes to concerns about privacy or potential HIPAA violations. However, in today’s technological …

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5 simple steps to amplify a physician’s professional visibility

Social media
September 11, 2018

It’s been said that 80 percent of success is showing up, but that’s simply not true. Showing up is not enough.  Showing up reliably and giving your best is not enough. You’ve got to be seen showing up. So, how do you raise your professional visibility?  Here are five tips for the modern physician leader.  If you are a traditionalist, please keep an open mind.  The strategies below aren’t that …

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5 must-haves for great physician online profiles

Social media
March 3, 2018

Patients have a lot of choices when it comes to physicians.  Making sure your online profile is up to date, complete, and contains these five items will improve the chances that a website visitor will become a patient.

Create a personal connection. Having good rapport with patients is important, and that process starts before patients ever walk in the door.

How often have you seen a physician bio that only contains a single, …

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An ultrasound posted on Instagram. Does a physician have a duty to warn?

Social media
February 14, 2018

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Early this month, Joanna Gaines, co-host of HGTV’s popular Fixer Upper, shared her pregnancy news with the world via a baby bump photo and an ultrasound, both posted to Instagram. The congratulations began pouring in from excited fans. But the conversation took a dark turn when a physician commented that the ultrasound appeared to …

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5 types of doctors you will meet on social media

Social media
June 27, 2015

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Twitter is a communication platform, and, therefore, it is a neutral medium. It’s not the medium itself, but how you use the medium that makes Twitter “good” or “bad.” In my five years of being an anonymous and five months of being a named individual on Twitter, I have come to realize that different people use Twitter for different purposes. In …

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The ALS ice bucket challenge: Analysis of why it went viral

Social media
September 30, 2014

The ALS ice bucket challenge, better known as #ALSIceBucketChallenge or #icebucketchallenge, was almost the perfect storm for viral fundraising. In my course, Designing Health Campaigns Using Social Media at Tufts University, we analyzed why the challenge went viral.

Not surprisingly, given its popularity, my students had all heard about it and watched challenge videos. About half had done it. Some researched amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and …

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The repercussions of declining Facebook friend requests from patients

Social media
November 10, 2013

At the end of a long day at my medical practice, I am sitting at my computer catching up with friends via Facebook. Suddenly, a notification pops up: one of the patients I saw today has sent me a friend request. I know that the ACP, AMA and every other physician organization recommends strongly that doctors not connect with patients via social media, so I quickly click to decline the …

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The OR is not a good place for a prank

Social media
October 2, 2013

An anesthesiologist at a California hospital pasted stickers simulating a mustache and teardrops on the face of a hospital employee while she was having surgery on a finger.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the doctor said, “I thought she would think this is funny and she would appreciate it.”

And if that wasn’t bad enough, a “nursing attendant” took a photograph.

The patient, who said she had to quit her job …

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5 benefits of online patient communities

Social media
June 28, 2013

If one searches for “online patient communities” over 19 million Internet sites are found.  Online patient communities (OPCs) may exist as subgroups of social media sites, non-profit organizations, and increasingly as part of websites of healthcare organizations and stand alone sites.

Online communities are now becoming a rich source of information gleaned from their discussions.  This information will be increasingly used for both clinical and commercial purposes. I will touch on themes which …

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10 simple rules for doctors on social media

Social media
May 26, 2013

How should doctors behave online? This is a funny question, isn’t it?

Medical establishment loves rules and hierarchy. Social media does not. Social media levels the playing field of who gets to talk; it gives real caregivers a voice. That’s very cool.

This is just a guess, but I suspect there are many more acts left to play out in the healthcare social media play.

The American College of Physicians and the Federation …

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Why doctors should use their real name on Twitter

Social media
April 14, 2013

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The General Medical Council (UK) published new guidelines that state, “If you identify yourself as a doctor in publicly accessible social media, you should also identify yourself by name. Any material written by authors who represent themselves as doctors is likely to be taken on trust and may reasonably be taken to represent the views of the profession more widely.”  This has …

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4 reasons parents should enforce the age restriction on social media

Social media
February 21, 2013

During a routine office visit, I was discussing activities and extracurriculars with a bright 10-year old girl. She loved talking about her dance team, gymnastics, and her new hobby of horseback riding.

Towards the end of our conversation, however, she said something that surprised me: “And, I am addicted to Pinterest.”

I turned to her mother, who was also in the exam room, and asked, “Did you know she is on Pinterest? …

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How to get started on Twitter: A primer for doctors

Social media
June 3, 2012

So you’ve decided to take the plunge (or at least, dip your toes) into the Twitterverse.  Congratulations! Welcome to a vibrant interactive community.  You’ll find plenty of different personalities here and lots of opinions.  But if you are like I was back in January 2011, you currently have no idea how to actually use Twitter, let alone how a physician might want to use it.

There are plenty of places to …

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Addressing comments on your medical practice’s Facebook page

Social media
February 13, 2012

Does your medical practice allow anybody to post links and comments on your Facebook page?

The short answer is yes. We do. Why? Because we think allowing patient to post links and commenting on our practice’s Facebook page helps us achieve these four things:

1. It encourages communication.
2. It allows us to address issues that we would otherwise have a hard time addressing.
3. Other patients will benefit by reading the discussions.
4. We …

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5 ways doctors can benefit from professional connections

Social media
January 22, 2012

Looking ahead to the next several months, I’ve found myself frequently wondering how many physicians will make this their year to take the plunge and join an online social network. There are significant advantages that can be gained for doctors who embrace social media. Here are five ways you and your practice can benefit from such professional connections.

1. Finding a better job. The business of the health care economy continues to …

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7 tips to avoid HIPAA violations in social media

Social media
June 6, 2011

There have been a couple of widely-publicized cases recently of physicians divulging patient information in social media. I’m sure the doctors involved did not intend to violate patient privacy.

While there are several excellent guidelines and policies on this topic, there isn’t a whole lot of practical advice, so here are my tips to help you avoid privacy violations (I hope this is the beginning of a conversation …

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