|
 |
Dayton Business Journal...
Patients flock to
Facebook for health care needs
by Brittany Hart, DBJ Staff Reporter
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Interacting with friends, posting photos and updating status changes
are common practices on Facebook.
But now more users are relying on the social networking site for health
information.
In fact, 41 percent of people said they use social media as a health
care resource, according to a National Research Corp. survey of nearly
23,000 U.S. residents. Most of them -- 94 percent -- said they turned
to Facebook for medical content such as diet and exercise tips and
health education videos. And some respondents even said the information
was likely to impact their future health decisions.
With more citizens turning to social media for health care decisions,
hospitals and other health care providers are taking steps to ramp up
their social media presence.
Patients are using these social media sites for multiple purposes such
as:
• To view health education videos;
• Get diet and exercise tips;
• Learn about upcoming health events; and
• Study disease awareness and
• Health statistics.
And thousands of patients are flocking to the health agencies’ social
media pages because, unlike traditional Web sites, they allow users
more ways to quickly interact with staff and other patients -- from
watching videos featuring doctors giving health advice to commenting on
a health agency’s Facebook wall about the treatment they received at
the facility.
Among health care providers with Facebook pages, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s site has more than 80,000 fans, while
the American Cancer Society has nearly 226,000 fans.
Recent posts on the CDC’s page give smoking cessation tips, statistics
on prescription drug-related deaths and ways to improve your diet.
On WebMD’s Facebook site, the latest content includes exercise tips for
adult workouts and children’s active video games. The site, which has
53,000 fans, also uses health issues in the news to raise awareness
among readers.
Dayton-area health officials understand the value of the medium and
have stepped up their Facebook presences to answer patient demand for
easily accessible health information.
The region’s two largest health systems -- Premier Health Partners and
Kettering Health Network -- each have Facebook pages with nearly 800
fans. Although their fans represent only a small segment of the local
health care base, it is a sign of a shift toward the medium.
“February saw us using Facebook more than ever,” said Bob Jackson,
network manager of corporate communications for Kettering Health
Network. “And you’ll see us increase our use even more.”
The main appeal of the media for patients, is the ability to have an
immediate two-way conversation with their providers, area health
officials said.
In contrast to a health organization’s Web site that only states
information, Facebook provides patients with the opportunity to ask
questions and share their opinions, Jackson said.
The medium acts as a forum for health care discussions among people as
well as health professionals. Patients can link to others with similar
illnesses, ask their health provider questions and give feedback on
their health facilities.
Facebook pages also often link to other social media, such as Twitter,
or onto mobile health applications for smartphones, such as Apple
Inc.’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone, Google Inc.’s (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android and
Research in Motion Ltd.’s (Nasdaq: RIMM) Blackberry.
Kettering Health Network’s Facebook site, which launched around the
beginning of the year, showcases news about the system’s hospitals and
health tips for users. Recent topics include a hospital construction
project update and ways to “deskercise,” or exercise at your work desk,
to improve posture and beat end-of-day fatigue.
Kettering Health and Miami Valley Hospital each utilized Facebook
heavily in February for Heart Month. The hospitals posted facts about
the heart, tips for a healthier heart and information about free heart
screening events in the community. Through the content, the health
systems raised awareness for heart disease -- the No. 1 killer in the
U. S.
In addition to disease awareness, the health systems also post videos
of patient testimonials, doctors’ medical advice and procedures offered
at the facilities.
Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, which has been a health community
leader in social media, communicates with patients and their parents
through a main Facebook page, which has about 3,800 fans, and a mascot
-- Wally B Bear -- site. The pages, featuring health information and
patient photos and videos, encourages users to share their medical
story, connect with other patients and their families and give feedback
about the hospital.
Also beginning this year, the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
started a Facebook page. The site is a forum for local patients, health
professionals and legislators to have a voice on medical issues, such
as health care reform. It also posts real-time updates on the area’s
hospitals, such as changes to visitation rules during flu season.
In addition, the page is used to provide medical resources and educate
and inform hospitals and the community on key health care issues,
according to Bryan Bucklew, GDAHA president and chief executive officer.
Despite many benefits, gaining health information from social media
also has some negatives. While the Facebook pages give patients quick,
convenient access to health information from their homes, some medical
professionals worry about the release of inaccurate health information
and how people will utilize it.
“People do need to be weary of taking health information from people
they don’t know,” Jackson said. “And of course, a health care provider
can’t provide diagnoses over social media. People still should engage
in seeing their physicians.”
Read the story with links at the Dayton Business Journal
|
|
|
|
