By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    health benefits of taking a vacation to reduce stress
    Relaxing European Destinations to Reduce Stress Risks to Health
    October 11, 2021
    pain management tips
    Managing Pain Differently: Alternative Pain Management Techniques
    January 12, 2022
    5 Ways to Promote Wellness in Your Home
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Hospital Training Using Virtual World and Avatars
    May 20, 2011
    Health Wonk Review: Mud Season Edition
    March 16, 2014
    Video: ICD-10 National Provider Call
    October 24, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Hey Friend, Can I Interest You in a Lung Transplant?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > Hey Friend, Can I Interest You in a Lung Transplant?
Social Media

Hey Friend, Can I Interest You in a Lung Transplant?

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

It’s no surprise to me that hospitals are starting to advertise high profit services on Google and Facebook. According to a Kaiser Health News piece, University of Pennsylvania Health System is trolling for lung transplant patients. Spending $20,000 generated 4,600 clicks, 36 appointments, and at least one prospective patient. With lung transplant revenue in the range of $100,000 per patient, even one patient may be enough to justify the media spend.

It’s no surprise to me that hospitals are starting to advertise high profit services on Google and Facebook. According to a Kaiser Health News piece, University of Pennsylvania Health System is trolling for lung transplant patients. Spending $20,000 generated 4,600 clicks, 36 appointments, and at least one prospective patient. With lung transplant revenue in the range of $100,000 per patient, even one patient may be enough to justify the media spend.

Some users are a bit wigged out when they realize that the ads are served up based on what they’ve searched for online or written about in their status. And of course critics are up in arms about over-diagnosis and treatment, especially when an academic medical center is involved.

But of course the main purpose of Google and Facebook is to segment customers for advertisers. Why else would they offer up all these services for free? And we shouldn’t be surprised to see academic medical centers go after patients –they do it all on the time with other media. Maximizing the uptake of profitable services is how they make ends meet and subsidize some of their other, more mission-oriented activities.

More Read

Handshake.jpg
How Practice Managers Can Get Physician Buy-In for Digital Marketing
Mobile Health Around the Globe: mHealth and Social Networking in Rural Tanzania
Rocketman
Social Media and TEDMED
Your Online Reputation

I’ve seen this coming for a long time, and in guises that are more insidious than anything mentioned in the article. Almost five years ago in What if Google finds out you have cancer before you do? I noted that ads for a drug used to reduce the risk of infection in chemo patients were popping up alongside a friend’s searches. With a strong enough profit motive and the right technology and personal information, I’d expect to see a lot more diagnosis done this way.

 


TAGGED:marketing
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Social Media

Is your Hospital Afraid of Social Media?

August 20, 2012

Marketing to Physicians? Think Education and Email

July 24, 2013
crowdsourcing medical education
eHealthMedical EducationMedical InnovationsNewsSocial Media

“The Power of Crowdsourcing”: A Primer on Trending Medical Education

September 12, 2013

Social Media Summit at Mayo Clinic: Day Two Exclusive Report

October 19, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?