Was just sent a pointer to a solid article from the Wall Street Journal, “Social Networking Comes To Healthcare.” The key ‘graph:
“The social-networking revolution is coming to health care, at the same time that new Internet technologies and software programs are making it easier than ever for consumers to find timely, personalized health information online. Patients who once connected mainly through email discussion groups and chat rooms are building more sophisticated virtual communities that enable them to share information about treatment and coping and build a personal network of friends.”
Interestingly, most of the social networking connections cited were of the patient-to-patient variety, with minimal mention of the patient-provider relationship. That is a definite opportunity area.
(Hat Tip: Charles Donovan)
>>with minimal mention of the patient-provider relationship. That is a definite opportunity area.
There is an opportunity there, but few providers (especially if you mean doctors) want to touch the issue. The problems are perceived liability risk, patient privacy protection and time spent on something that is not direct patient care. It’s part of the same reason physicians don’t often hand out email addresses.
There are few physicians and I doubt a critical mass that would be prepared to get involved on social networking with patients. That has been my experience anyway.
Social networking in health care is truly the next frontier in blogging and community sharing of first hand experience of life-changing information. It is amazing that healthcare is one of the last major topics to join the blogging trend. Healthcare topics are in news everyday and is the largest single expense
( excluding housing) by consumers in the United States.
Buyer beware. Do yourself a favor a make sure that the bloggers you read for information have the appropriate credentials.
The Wall Street Journal’s: Informed Patient
The Wall Street Journal’s Informed Patient section reported the importance of blogging in a December 27, 2006 article titled Social Networking Comes to Health Care. This superb bit of journalism noted:Both the American Cancer Society (cancer.org) and t…
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