There are a lot of statistics being released today showing the growing impact of social media in the healthcare industry.
According to a set of statistics from Get Referral MD, there are more than 40% of consumers who claim that the information that they have found on social media has affected the way that they have death with their health. In fact, the most accessed online resources for health-related information are the following:
- 56% for WebMD
- 31% for Wikipedia
- 29% for health magazine websites
- 17% for Facebook
- 15% for YouTube
- 13% for blogs
- 12% for patient communities
- 6% for Twitter
Only 27% didn’t make use of these popular social media sites for acquiring health-related information.
Furthermore, a 2014 study that looked into the benefits, risks, and best practices of social media for health care professionals concluded that social media sites and platforms – for as long as they are used in a wise and prudent way – has the potential to promote health publicly and individually, and promote professional development and advancement.
This means that in this day and age, social media actually has a role in promoting health care across a wide range of people.
The question that remains therefore is this: what are the ways by which healthcare facilities can use social media in a way that is professional, productive, and effective?
One way for healthcare facilities to effectively make use of social media is to provide and share information. They can give updates on new technologies, and offer generic information regarding pre- and post-operative care.
Engagement is another way for healthcare facilities to make use of social media. Although it is highly advisable for doctors to not provide specific medical advice online, especially using their personal social media accounts, nonetheless, doctors are made to appear more accessible to patients and staff because of their online presence. They can inform the public of their consultation hours and contact details.
Engagement through social media therefore helps healthcare facilities with their marketing and communication efforts. Healthcare facilities can promote their new wellness programs, announce their latest achievements, and provide information on new services.
Another way that healthcare facilities can use social media is by providing general information to the public that can help them with their decision-making. Let’s face it. Consumers today like to do their research before purchasing anything – especially nowadays that it’s so easy to look up information using smartphones and tablets. We can pretty much say the same when it comes to medical-related purchases and procedures. It is highly likely that patients and consumers will first do some research in order to know the pros and cons of a medical procedure, and the risks and benefits of a particular surgical technique.
Lastly, healthcare facilities can use social media to provide live updates during surgeries. Doctors and surgeons can provide educational information regarding up-to-date techniques, as well as provide rationalizations of the use of certain surgical procedures over the others. This way, fellow doctors, and even medical students can learn, and thus professional advancement may be made accessible to all of the healthcare and medical community.
If you are a healthcare facility or you are part of the medical community, allow us to help you.
At D6 Interactive, we can provide you with professional social media marketing, beautifully designed websites, and excellent SEO services.
We are a social media company located in Dallas, offering SEO services, as well as all of your social media needs – from establishing your online presence, to helping you effectively maximize all that social media can offer.
