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
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 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
    Obesity Explained
    December 2, 2011
    Why Pilot Programs are a Waste of Time and Money
    August 26, 2017
    Does Disclosure Work?
    January 4, 2012
    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: Hospitals not Leveraging Facebook
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 > Business > Hospital Administration > Hospitals not Leveraging Facebook
Hospital AdministrationSocial Media

Hospitals not Leveraging Facebook

GlennLaffel
GlennLaffel
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

US hospitals are not leveraging Facebook to engage patients, improve brand recognition, build communities or just about anything else, a new study finds.

Verasoni Worldwide and Simon Associates conducted the study, which did praise children’s hospitals as pioneers in the use of the popular social networking site.

The study quantified the extent to which hospitals engaged in typical Facebook activities like posting on their walls, using the event function and discussion boards, offering engagement opportunities like games and photo sharing, and providing links to hospital-sponsored blogs and Twitter accounts.

It focused on 120 hospitals of various sizes and types (including academic medical centers, community hospitals and safety net hospitals) in every state. The study took place between December 15, 2010 and January 12, 2011.

More Read

Cost transparency
New ACA Provision Calls for Cost Transparency in Hospitals
5 Ways Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health
2012 Local Consumer Review Survey Shows Doctor Reputation Management Is Crucial
Dealing Effectively with Shift Changes and Patient Handoffs
Staffing Effects on Weekend Medical Care

Key results from the study include: Although all hospitals had a presence on Facebook, only 8 (6%) had at least 10,000 fans. More than 50% of the hospitals had less than 1,000 fans. Two of the leaders were Children’s Hospital of Boston (465,073 fans) and Seattle’s Children’s Hospital (15,510 fans).

Only 48 hospitals (40%) posted daily on their walls. Unsurprisingly, these hospitals had more encounters with patients (both current and prospective) and providers. Ninety-six others posted between once per month and twice per week. Once again, children’s hospitals led the way in terms of post frequency.

Just over half (63) the hospitals used Facebook’s event calendar to promote hospital events.

Seventy-six hospitals (63%) had no unsolicited feedback or questions on their pages.

Only 5 hospitals had games, apps, contests or incentives, and a majority of hospitals, 66 (58%), did not allow members to share photos on their Facebook page. Several children’s hospitals allowed parents to post photos of their ‘well’ children, with notes of thanks to hospital staff.

More than 100 hospitals (86%) did not integrate blogs into their Facebook page, and only 10 integrated their Twitter feeds into Facebook.

“While the numbers clearly indicate that patients are on Facebook, it is the job of hospitals to find them, and engage them in a meaningful way. And just because a hospital is on Facebook doesn’t mean that they are building a meaningful Facebook experience for both the hospital and the patient,” Abe Kasbo, a study co-author said in an interview.

“As hospitals face major changes in the coming healthcare environment, they must recognize that the media landscape has changed,” the authors concluded. “Overall, the majority of hospitals in this study do not use Facebook to advance their mission and business goals. It is time for hospitals to recognize the opportunities that Facebook (in particular) and social media (in general) offer as hospitals seek to improve access to care and develop deeper partnerships with patients, families and communities.” On hospital pages where there was a high degree of interaction between the hospital and members…patients, family members, friends and members of the community used the hospital’s Facebook presence to share and connect. Facebook allowed people to tell their own stories of hope and struggle and to share them with others who had similar concerns related to a health topic or a disease state.”

TAGGED:facebookhospitalssocial media
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
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

You Might also Like

doctor and nurse shortage
BusinessHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

When Evaluating Physician and Nurse Shortages, Consider the Source

November 19, 2013
Image
Social Media

Why Twitter is Leading the Way in Pharma Social Media

October 29, 2013

The Hidden Dangers of Working as a Health Care Professional

May 5, 2016

A 12-Point Checklist For Healthcare Web Content Management

June 25, 2015
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?