Social Media: a new frontier in healthcare. Photo credit: www.pexels.com
In the age of social media, online shopping and web-based restaurant reservations, virtually every industry is finding new ways to accommodate our need for instant gratification. One positive result could be the evolution of how we interact with our healthcare providers.
According to statista.com, as of April 2018, Facebook has more than 2.2 billion active users. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms grow their active user database every month with tech savvy consumers who are no longer content to wait for hours in an urgent care facility or call the doctor’s office to make an appointment.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) reviewed a survey from www.osteopathic.org and found 54 percent of millennials would like to connect with their medical provider on social media platforms. The survey also found 43% of all adults and 65% of millennials feel it is appropriate to contact their healthcare provider through social media for health advice.
It seems the healthcare industry has finally taken notice and we are beginning to see new ways for patients to interact with their healthcare providers. A survey of AAFP’s membership found that 69% of AAFP members offer their patients a secure web portal for messaging and 12% contact their patients through text messaging.
In an article for PhysiciansPractice.com Kayla Matthews shares 5 ways physicians can use social media:
- Communicating Availability: Providers are beginning to offer convenient scheduling apps that take just a few clicks to book an appointment. Which means you don’t have to call the office and fumble your way through phone menus only to be placed on a 15 minute hold.
- Educating Patients: Social media platforms are becoming a primary source for patients seeking medical advice. Providers willing to put the time into social media platforms like YouTube can develop a dedicated following that will translate into more office visits and better informed patients.
- Providing Anonymity: A lot of patients struggle with embarrassment over certain conditions and it can become a barrier to seeking care. The anonymity provided by social media can be used to patients on their symptoms and encourage seeking treatment when needed.
- Improving Patient Interaction: Patient confidentiality prevents healthcare providers from using social media platforms for private information, but it doesn’t prevent participation in the online community. Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with patients, answer simple questions and invite new patients to connect.
- Promoting New Research or Relevant Information: Social media platforms are a great space to promote upcoming events. We are seeing Facebook events pop up from hospitals and Clinics promoting everything from flu vaccines or free breast exams to full health screening fairs.
From tracking patient’s Fit Bit data to YouTube channels and Facebook events, healthcare is just beginning to embrace social media and the future seems limitless.