| In these tough times for every industry, | | | | Can Social Media Save the Day? |
| healthcare continues to add jobs. And while these | | | | Physicians of all specialties are concerned about |
| numbers may suggest that healthcare is recession | | | | their incomes, and many are taking matters into |
| proof the facts reveal this may not be the case. | | | | their own hands. In an effort to promote |
| Despite continued job creation in the healthcare | | | | themselves and their practice or facility, physicians |
| industry, the bad news continues to mount | | | | are using free online mediums like Facebook, |
| massive layoffs at pharmaceutical companies, | | | | Twitter, and blogs to engage with current patients |
| multiple hospital closings, health plans struggling, | | | | and reach out to new ones. One of the most |
| etc. And with the uncertainty surrounding the | | | | popular physician bloggers, Dr. Kevin Pho, author |
| impact of new legislation, many healthcare | | | | of KevinMD, has this to say about why doctors |
| providers are fearful for their futures. | | | | and nurses should engage in social media: |
| These are unsettling times for every industry, but | | | | Its to a health professionals benefit to have some |
| the overall outlook for healthcare is still positive. | | | | sort of online presence. Not only to engage and |
| You already know the reasons for the projected | | | | provoke discussion, but also to make them |
| growth aging baby boomers, technological | | | | pro-active in the information associated with them |
| advances, longer life spans, even healthcare | | | | when their name is Googled. |
| reform. These long-term forces will continue to | | | | More patients will be searching for doctors and |
| drive job growth in the industry, but it doesnt | | | | hospitals via search engines, and being active in |
| mean physicians arent worried about the impact | | | | blogs, Facebook and Twitter allows you to define |
| that the recession and other circumstances may | | | | your online reputation. Going forward, this will be |
| have on future earnings. | | | | one of the more important reasons why doctors, |
| Around the country, patients are facing financial | | | | nurses, and medical institutions should have a |
| hardships affecting their ability to seek medical | | | | robust social media presence. |
| care. According to a recent MDsearch Income | | | | But physicians arent acting alone. According to a |
| Survey, 61% of physician respondents have seen | | | | recent article in the Jackson & Coker |
| a decrease in patient traffic, and 64% have seen | | | | Industry Report, at least 367 hospitals have |
| a decrease in elective procedures. The downturn | | | | created accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or |
| isnt surprising because for most patients, job loss | | | | You Tube, and a number of hospitals have blogs |
| is accompanied by the loss of health insurance, | | | | authored by their CEOs in an effort to personalize |
| and even those who still have coverage are | | | | their message. |
| facing rising co-pays. The recession is causing a | | | | The overwhelming popularity of social media has |
| shift in patients priorities, and money now seems | | | | certainly not gone unnoticed by the healthcare |
| better spent on gas and groceries than anything | | | | profession. Physicians are just beginning to explore |
| less than emergency medical services. | | | | how these new tools can help them create an |
| While most physicians are not worried about losing | | | | online presence. Healthcare may not be totally |
| their employment, they are concerned about the | | | | recession proof, but with the help of tools like |
| drop in patient visits and what that means for | | | | Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and blogs, |
| their income. Nearly half (47%) of the MDsearch | | | | healthcare providers and facilities have new ways |
| survey respondents earned less in 2008 than | | | | to engage with consumers and foster growth in |
| they did in 2007, and 57% projected that they | | | | the industry. |
| would earn less in 2009 than they did in 2007. | | | | |