More doctors than ever before and 26% of hospitals in the US are now using social media platforms to improve the care they provide, share healthcare information and interact with their patients. Though the doctor is typically someone we all try to avoid seeing (an apple a day or something, right?), there are some good reasons to add your doctor – or any doctor – to your beloved timeline on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitter.
Here’s why:
Connecting with Your Doctor: 60% of doctors say that social media improves the quality of care delivered to patients, and it’s not hard to see why. Following doctors on social media is a two-way street. You can see what they post about medical information, appointment availability and health concerns like the flu, but they can also see what you’re sharing in regards to eating, exercise, and lifestyle. This allows a physician to personally cater to you and make suggestions that suit your needs and lifestyle. Platforms like Twitter are especially helpful in facilitating dialogue between patient and doctor and can be a fast way to get questions answered.
Educating Yourself: With so much healthcare information online, it can be hard to know where to start. We’ve all self-diagnosed on WebMD at some point or another, probably resulting in a major freak-out. Especially for those of us who have specific medical conditions, following doctors on social media can be a great source of reliable information. Take the guesswork out of online medical information and get your data straight from the horse’s…erhm, doctor’s…mouth.
Care and Support: Social media has become a powerful forum for medical support groups for patients and caregivers. With doctors participating and offering suggestions on these platforms, they are becoming more valuable than ever before. This offers many a community of comfort and sense of belonging to those with a variety of conditions.
You don’t have to take our word for it, there are plenty of doctors out there trailblazing on social media and taking the medical industry into the next century. Check out some of our favorites:
Doctor Mike: You may know him as The Sexiest Doctor crowned by People magazine, but Dr. Mike is so much more. Check out his YouTube channel for series on subjects like Healthy Routines, Ask Doctor Mike, Real Nutrition, and Medical Curiosity to name just a few. And, if you’re looking for some eye candy (hey, its calorie-free) be sure to become one of his 2.7 million followers on Instagram.
Doctor Pho: Kevin Pho, founder of KevinMD.com with over 3 million monthly pageviews, is changing the way healthcare providers and patients alike think about social media. His twitter #slays, often linking back to helpful articles originally posted on his blog.
Dr. Luks: Howard Luks, sports medical specialist and orthopedic surgeon, uses his personal blog, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to answer patient questions and explain injuries. He believes that if patients are being active on social media, so should their physicians.
Thanks to physicians like these sharing information and answering questions on social media, the lives of patients are becoming all the more easier.
LMS is always on top of the latest trends in social media and influencer marketing – from health to food to beauty. We know just how to use this knowledge to grow your brand to reach its full potential. Contact us at imgame@wearelms.com and check out our blog for more.
