Physicians Using Social Media

Individuals and organizations have embraced the use of social media as a way to quickly and easily create and disseminate information, ideas, and experiences, using low-cost, web-based technology. Doctors and others in the healthcare industry have been among those utilizing these new tools, but this use is not undertaken without some concern regarding matters of patient privacy and the blurring the lines between physicians’ public and private personas.

Robert L. Coffield and Joanne E. Joiner report that to date there are at least 540 hospitals in the United States using social media tools to communicate to a general audience. This figure includes 247 YouTube channels, 316 Facebook pages, 419 Twitter accounts, and 67 blogs, and these numbers continue to grow. Further research indicates that though nine out of ten U.S. hospitals are utilizing social media in some way, only one third have a formal social networking plan in place.

Twitter, which has an estimated 6 million monthly visitors, was ranked by Neilson.com in March 2008 as the fastest-growing site in the Member Communities category for the previous month. Among the physicians using social media, particularly Twitter, to connect with patients and colleagues, are a number of “celebrity doctors,” some of whom have more than 75,000 followers. In addition to these practicing physicians, social media and social networking websites are particularly popular among medical students, residents, and interns.

Researchers from the University of Florida’s colleges of Education and Medicine 2008 conducted a survey of the Facebook profiles of medical students and residents. Over 800 medical students’ names were searched on Facebook, and 44 percent of them were found to have profiles. Of these 362, only 37 percent had restricted the level of access to information contained on their profile by altering privacy settings. Additionally, a recent survey of medical school deans indicates that medical students have been found to frequently post inappropriate material on social networking websites.The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show that 60 percent of the 80 deans who responded to the survey knew of incidents of unprofessional conduct, and 13 percent admitted to incidents that violated patient privacy.

David H. Brendel, MD, PhD, chair of McLean Hospital’s Institutional Review Board, has similar concerns for medical students’ disregard for protecting patient privacy when posting information on social networking websites. In Dr. Brendel’s case, this concern extends also to practicing physicians using Facebook and other sites, and he advises the following four guidelines for doctors when using online networking websites:

1. Address a patient’s online invitation immediately and in person to avoid damaging the therapeutic relationship.
2. Do not include information obtained through social networking websites to a patient’s medical record without their consent.
3. Use discretion when posting personal information online.
4. Understand the privacy policies available on social networking websites and use them to limit access to personal information.

Some healthcare providers chose to connect with patients not only through social networking websites, but also to exchange emails. Results of a 2009 study by Manhattan Research indicate that experts in “Physicians in 2012: The Outlook on Health Information Technology,”five specialties are most likely to contact their patients via email or online messaging: dermatology, medical oncology, neurology, endrocrinology, and infectious disease. indicated that five percent of approximately 9,000 U.S. adults who participated had send or received an email from a doctor, and 49 percent wanted to do so in the future. Additional data from Manhattan Research included in a report entitled

Many physicians are still reluctant to employ the use of email or social media to connect with patients because of privacy risks, despite the potential for beneficial physician and patient interaction. According to Robert L. Coffield and Joanne E. Joiner, even physician-to-physician contact through social networking websites can be problematic if the individuals involved are not careful to ensure that patient information and identifiers are not shared. To prevent some of these issues, telemedicine programs are sometimes utilized. Telemedicine is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as “the practice of medicine when the doctor and patient are widely separated using two-way voice and visual communication (as by satellite or computer).” It has grown since its first inception to include not only physician-to-patient contact, but also physician-to-physician Unlike standard, “public” social networking websites, iCons in Medicine is medical social networking and telemedicine website which allows doctors to request and send teleconsultations on difficult cases. To ensure patient privacy, iCons in Medicine relies on secure connections and one-on-one sharing of patient data.

Physicians who would like to provide or request teleconsultations can register online to take part in the program. Non-physician individuals with an interest in healthcare can also sign up to participate in the iCons in Medicine network as General Members.

Healthcare Following Chile's Earthquake

While aid organizations continue to support relief efforts in Haiti, some attention has now been diverted by the 8.8-magnitute earthquake which struck Chile on February 27, 2010. As with Haiti’s tragedy, many organizations are accepting donations to benefit relief efforts in Chile via text message, and individuals have banded together on Twitter and Facebook to request help locating loved ones, provide updates, and share information.

Experts, including Sergio Barrientos, science chief of the Seismology Institute of the University of Chile, indicate that this quake was 50 times bigger than the one that killed thousands and destroyed much of Haiti’s infrastructure on January 12, 2010. Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, indicated that the force of the quake was in fact so strong that it affected the Earth’s figure axis (the axis about which the Earth’s mass is balanced) and caused the length of the day to be shortened by 1.26 microseconds. Compared to Haiti’s relatively shallow earthquake which occurred just 8.1 miles below the surface of the earth, the depth of Chile’s recent quake was 21.7 miles. This increased depth, which allowed some of the quake’s energy to disperse, and Chile’s strict building codes lessened the earthquake’s potential to cause more serious damage.

According to the National Emergency Office, 795 individuals have died as a result of the earthquake, and the 40-foot tsunami and 131 aftershocks of magnitude 5 or greater that have followed. Chilean President, Dr. Michelle Bachelet stated that it is likely that two million people were affected in some way by the recent earthquake. Many lost family and friends, and an estimated 500,000 homes sustained considerable damage, according to reports from the Chilean Red Cross.

Efforts for locate and rescue survivors are ongoing, and it is expected that, as seen in Haiti, medical and rehabilitative care will be needed by many. Information regarding the number of individuals injured or displaced by the earthquake and the aftershocks and tsunami that followed is not yet available. Though current counts of individuals killed or injured are substantially lower than following Haiti’s earthquake, these figures are expected to rise as reports indicate that as many as 500 individuals are still missing in Constitución alone. In addition to the earthquake itself, which hit most strongly in six central regions of Chile, substantial loss of life and damage to infrastructure is due to the subsequent tidal wave which submerged fishing towns on the coast of south-central Chile. More than 20 boats were swept ashore in the port of Talcahuano, and rescue workers have located over 300 bodies in Constitución. Access to drinking water, food, electricity, and other supplies to many towns in these costal areas, including Bio Bio and Concepcion, have been disturbed, leading to tension and looting in some areas.

Amid civil unrest in areas with destroyed highways and collapsed bridges, the spread of diseasedelivery of healthcare is also a concern. According to UN Humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs, Chile’s government has identified its emergency needs as temporary bridges, field hospitals, satellite telephones, electric generators, damage assessment teams, water purification systems, field kitchens, and dialysis centers. While reports indicate that the health network in northern Chile is operating normally, in the south access to heath services has been disrupted by the collapse of six hospitals and damage to two others. To provide some assistance, the United Nations will be sending 45 satellite phones to Chile for officials coordinating relief efforts, and is prepared to send 30 tons of food and other aid. U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has indicated that the United States will offer “not only solidarity but specific supplies” to help Chile recover. Aid from the U.S. will include 62 satellite phones, eight water purification systems, and a mobile field hospital with surgical capability. Argentina has already sent medical supplies including three tent hospitals, water processing equipment, medications, and satellite telephones to Chile. Other nations including Canada, which has pledged $2 million to support relief efforts, and Singapore, which will supply $50,000, have also offered contributions. In addition to the need for facilities and supplies, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO noted a shortage of healthcare personnel and has assembled an emergency response team of 80 trained specialists.

As the outpouring of support for Chile begins, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, aid organizations, and individuals face the daunting task of coordinating their relief efforts and some areas are still awaiting support. It remains unclear how many individuals have been affected by the earthquake, both directly and indirectly, but it is of great import that they get the care and assistance they need.

Find out about how the iCons in Medicine teleconsultation program can help following natural disasters and what iCons in Medicine and the Center for International Rehabilitation are doing to ensure the provision of rehabilitation services in Haiti. and the

Call for Mobility Aid Donated Goods for Haiti Relief

iCons in Medicine, under the auspices of its parent company the Center for International Rehabilitation, is seeking donations of Mobility Aids to support ongoing rehabilitation relief efforts in Haiti.

Needed items include Adult and Pediatric Crutches, Walkers, and Wheelchairs

Details on Criteria for Mobility Aid Donation

Mobility aid donations can be made by individuals, as well as bulk product donations by manufacturers and distributors. Monetary donations for purchase of mobility aids may also be made. For complete instructions, please click the appropriate link below:

There are a number of other ways you can help provide support to medical and rehabilitation efforts through iCons in Medicine.