ER 2.0: Social Networking in Healthcare Settings

SXSW and SXSH Next Week

2010-03-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to the discussion at South-by-Southwest on Sunday, March 14. Also just registered for Social Exchange Social Health, a pre-conference event at the Texas Hospital Association on Thursday, March 11.

The Intersection of Online Social Networking with Medical Professionalism

2010-02-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

Aim To measure the frequency and content of online social networking among medical students and residents.
Methods Using the online network Facebook, we evaluated online profiles of all medical students (n = 501) and residents (n = 312) at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Objective measures included the existence of a profile, whether it was made private, and any personally identifiable information. Subjective outcomes included photographic content, affiliated social groups, and personal information not generally disclosed in a doctor–patient encounter.
Results Social networking with Facebook is common among medical trainees, with 44.5% having an account. Medical students used it frequently (64.3%) and residents less frequently (12.8%, p < .0001). The majority of accounts (83.3%) listed at least 1 form of personally identifiable information, only a third (37.5%) were made private, and some accounts displayed potentially unprofessional material. There was a significant decline in utilization of Facebook as trainees approached medical or residency graduation (first year as referent, years 3 and 4, p < .05).
Discussion While social networking in medical trainees is common in the current culture of emerging professionals, a majority of users allow anyone to view their profile. With a significant proportion having subjectively inappropriate content, ACGME competencies in professionalism must include instruction on the intersection of personal and professional identities. MORE

www.Cancer.im – Giving Cancer Patients Control

2010-02-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

Cancer.im is the next-generation social networking and resource site for cancer patients, advocates, and volunteers. It boasts many of the features of existing social networking sites like Facebook of MySpace, such the ability of members to blog, post pictures and videos, make and remain in contact with friends, and find others with similar interests. MORE

Federal News Radio 1500 AM: Hospitals' Approach to Social Networking

2010-02-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

Federal News Radio 1500 AM: Hospitals' Approach to Social Networking

St. Vincent’s shares patient's heart procedure on Twitter | Jacksonville.com

2010-02-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

St. Vincent’s shares patient's heart procedure on Twitter | Jacksonville.com

Podcast Previewing ER 2.0 @ SXSW

2010-02-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a podcast we created for SXSW to preview our core conversation:

SXSH - The Healthcare Social Media Preconference at SXSW

2010-01-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

Plans are being made for a HCSM (Health Care Social Media) pre-conference in Austin, TX on March 11 - the day before SXSW Interactive begins.

Shwen Gwee, founder of the Social Pharmer Network and the Med 2.0 Blog is getting things organized on Twitter. Follow the tag #sxsh on Twitter for updates as the details get set.

Welcome To Our Blog

2010-01-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

Your blog hosts are Aimee Roundtree and Ed Bennett.

We're hosting a core conversation at the 2010 SXSW Interactive Festival on Sunday March 14 at 11 AM, and we'd like to get the discussion started here.

Hospitals and health care providers are slowly but surely using new media and social networking software for some of their primary objectives--treatment, research, education and outreach, and patient-provider communication. This presentation will feature best practices from case studies and prescribe future uses of new media in public health.

Please share your thoughts, experiences and research on the following topics:

1. How popular and prevalent is social networking use in hospital settings?
2. Which hospitals currently use the technology and how do they use it?
3. How might the technology be used to aid in healthcare reform?
4. In what way does the technology complicate patient privacy and HIPPA issues?
5. What future applications of the technology might help resolve longstanding health care problems, such as treatment adherence and healthcare disparities?
6. How has social networking changed the nature of the patient-provider relationship?
7. What revisions to to health communication theory does the technology inspire?
8. How can social networking improve evidence-based medicine, translational research and medical training?
9. In what way can continuing medical education benefit from the technology?
10. How might social networking software be deployed to facilitate integrated care?