Healthcare Social Media
According to a study by the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) reported in November, 2014:
- Nearly all hospitals (94%) have a Facebook page, but only about 50% are active on Twitter.
- On the other hand, a minority are connecting with patients via texting and email.
Some Electronic Health Records (EHR) actually integrate text and emails between patients and their care team into the patient chart – awesome innovation! Practice Fusion is just one example of this.
Regulation of Healthcare Social Media?
The rapidly-growing adoption of digital communications between patients and their care team is opening concern over security of Personal Health Information (PHI) and other HIPAA-compliance concerns:
- What sort of regulations or oversight are warranted as digital health communications evolve?
- What about the rise of the “quantified self,” and all the PHI data that our new “wearables” produce?
Here to discuss social media in healthcare is John Theriault, founder and principal of Truventis, strategic marketing and content firm:
What do you think? Is the Fed doing enough to regulate digital health data? Digital health communications? Health data from wearables?
Please leave your comments below and share your thoughts.
Yeah, docs give many reasons for not connecting, for not participating in their online brand. But only one of the Top 5 Reasons Doctors Give For Not Participating in Social is valid … only one of five! So if you’re a doc or other practitioner and you’re connecting on social media – or considering connecting on social media – download your FREE 12-Step Guide and stay out of trouble! [Click on the image below for immediate access!]
Resources:
Is Texting in Hospitals HIPAA Compliant?
Mayo Clinic Social Media Health Network, pioneered by Ed Bennett.
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