Healthcare Professionals - Answer These 5 Top Questions Before You Start Using Social Media
The choices in social media can be overwhelming.
There are so many sites to choose from and if writing isn't part of your everyday practice it can be a challenge to think about adding a writing routine to an already busy schedule.
Save yourself time and failed efforts: answer these questions to get a head-start on developing your social media strategy.
Who Am I Connecting With? Whether you're a medical doctor, a wellness professional, or a therapist, it's important to decide who you will be connecting with.
Is your intent to build relationships with just your patients? Or do you also plan to connect with colleagues and family? On most social networking sites your connections will be able to see each other and communicate with you by posting to your profile (on Facebook that's called writing on your wall).
Rather than be surprised by posts from outrageous friends or unthinking family members, consider that using social media might be strictly business, and friends and family might not be good connections.
For example, do you want to wake up one morning to find a comment on your profile like, "Still can't believe you're a doctor after being kicked out of so many colleges!" My bet is, the answer to that question is "No".
What Will I Post? Day to day recaps like "I just walked the dog" do not qualify as professional posts on social media accounts.
In fact, they should be avoided so your followers don't get the wrong idea about your professionalism.
If you didn't create a strategy before you started using social media, then it's time to regroup and come up with a plan.
Choose your subject matter and find quality sources for topical news and information to share with your connections.
What is My Social Media Policy? My own doctor sent me a request to join him in social networking.
I wondered what type of relationship he wanted and if he'd post updates about an embarrassing diseases that my own followers might conclude I have? Or if he'd be sharing patient information? I recommend that not only should healthcare professionals have a social media policy, but they should post it on their website.
They would also be wise to post the privacy disclosure that patients are required to sign, and even put a link to this on their social media accounts.
The policy should include full disclosure of the privacy settings you maintain on your account.
Don't forget to remind friends and followers that you don't provide health advice through social media.
You know the drill; if patients need assistance, they need to make an appointment for a consultation or if it's an emergency they need to go to a hospital.
When Will I (or my assistant) Write Posts? The good news for social media is that there are now apps like Hoot Suite that allow the user to plan and schedule posts in advance.
So in December when you're planning your practice calendar for the year, you can post all the national holidays that will be observed, post when you'll be at a professional conference, post reminders of days off or shorter practice hours.
If you speak or hold events, post them in advance.
Then each week schedule several posts from the news or from your own practice news.
How Will People Know I'm Active in Social Media? You have to assume that people won't know you are posting unless you tell them.
If you're sending out either a printed newsletter or an email newsletter, ask for followers! If your practice sends birthday cards, let them know they can stay better in touch throughout the year via social media and name the account you use.
You can use office records to develop a list of connections to make.
In the invitation to connect, just be sure to include in a link and explanation of your intent and privacy policy to help ease possible patient concerns.
There are so many sites to choose from and if writing isn't part of your everyday practice it can be a challenge to think about adding a writing routine to an already busy schedule.
Save yourself time and failed efforts: answer these questions to get a head-start on developing your social media strategy.
Who Am I Connecting With? Whether you're a medical doctor, a wellness professional, or a therapist, it's important to decide who you will be connecting with.
Is your intent to build relationships with just your patients? Or do you also plan to connect with colleagues and family? On most social networking sites your connections will be able to see each other and communicate with you by posting to your profile (on Facebook that's called writing on your wall).
Rather than be surprised by posts from outrageous friends or unthinking family members, consider that using social media might be strictly business, and friends and family might not be good connections.
For example, do you want to wake up one morning to find a comment on your profile like, "Still can't believe you're a doctor after being kicked out of so many colleges!" My bet is, the answer to that question is "No".
What Will I Post? Day to day recaps like "I just walked the dog" do not qualify as professional posts on social media accounts.
In fact, they should be avoided so your followers don't get the wrong idea about your professionalism.
If you didn't create a strategy before you started using social media, then it's time to regroup and come up with a plan.
Choose your subject matter and find quality sources for topical news and information to share with your connections.
What is My Social Media Policy? My own doctor sent me a request to join him in social networking.
I wondered what type of relationship he wanted and if he'd post updates about an embarrassing diseases that my own followers might conclude I have? Or if he'd be sharing patient information? I recommend that not only should healthcare professionals have a social media policy, but they should post it on their website.
They would also be wise to post the privacy disclosure that patients are required to sign, and even put a link to this on their social media accounts.
The policy should include full disclosure of the privacy settings you maintain on your account.
Don't forget to remind friends and followers that you don't provide health advice through social media.
You know the drill; if patients need assistance, they need to make an appointment for a consultation or if it's an emergency they need to go to a hospital.
When Will I (or my assistant) Write Posts? The good news for social media is that there are now apps like Hoot Suite that allow the user to plan and schedule posts in advance.
So in December when you're planning your practice calendar for the year, you can post all the national holidays that will be observed, post when you'll be at a professional conference, post reminders of days off or shorter practice hours.
If you speak or hold events, post them in advance.
Then each week schedule several posts from the news or from your own practice news.
How Will People Know I'm Active in Social Media? You have to assume that people won't know you are posting unless you tell them.
If you're sending out either a printed newsletter or an email newsletter, ask for followers! If your practice sends birthday cards, let them know they can stay better in touch throughout the year via social media and name the account you use.
You can use office records to develop a list of connections to make.
In the invitation to connect, just be sure to include in a link and explanation of your intent and privacy policy to help ease possible patient concerns.