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
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 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
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Telehealth Tapping into Social Influence
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 > Telehealth Tapping into Social Influence
Social Media

Telehealth Tapping into Social Influence

Barbara Ficarra
Last updated: September 20, 2011 6:39 am
Barbara Ficarra
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

In a recent Harvard Business Review Blog, David Armano writes about the six pillars of influence that leads to measurably favorable outcomes.

To achieve measurably better health, the pillars Armano explains can certainly be adopted.

He notes how the “social web can amplify signals, influence behavior and lead to action.”

More Read

save dollars
Four Money-Wasting Marketing Mistakes Doctors Make
HIMSS12 Storified: TwitBits, Thoughts, Takeaways
Zyrtec’s Healthcare Social Media Campaign
Social Media Moves to Forefront During Boston Marathon Disaster
Social Media and Healthcare: Inbound vs. Outbound Marketing

Social networking has changed the landscape in health care.  Technology has paved the way for instant communication and feedback.

 

In a recent Harvard Business Review Blog, David Armano writes about the six pillars of influence that leads to measurably favorable outcomes.

To achieve measurably better health, the pillars Armano explains can certainly be adopted.

He notes how the “social web can amplify signals, influence behavior and lead to action.”

Social networking has changed the landscape in health care.  Technology has paved the way for instant communication and feedback.

While some companies continue to question the value of social media networking, debating whether or not they should be on Twitter or Facebook, others have superseded the hesitation, and are presently into the next phase of social networking.

The companies who currently have delved into the social media networking space can find their customers are already there, sharing their health concerns, supporting one another, and seeking better health outcomes.  They can interact with them in real-time, and monitor behavior and trends.  According to Deloitte, “Social networks hold considerable potential value for health care organizations because they can be used to reach stakeholders, aggregate information and leverage collaboration.”

The power of social media networking is vast.  Sharing thoughts, ideas, viewpoints, posting updates, collaborating with consumers and colleagues is immeasurable. Tapping into a community of users whose word-of-mouth influence in the social space is fierce, and it goes beyond the standard role of social media networking.

Facebook, Twitter and Google plus are only a few of the social networking platforms utilized, and the millions of individuals who use it have the capability to spread information like wild fire.  They can reach and influence others in their social circles at lightning speed.

Individuals have the capability to influence their friends about their favorite restaurant, movies, electronics and TV shows; but imagine the power that individuals have to influence their circle of friends, and their friends and so on and so on, about better health.

Within the circles of social networking, trust and relationships are formed.  Individuals can take an active role in promoting health and wellness.  Social influence develops based on the trust within the circles of the social network.  Family and friends can help inspire and motivate each other.  They can also hold others within their circles accountable for their actions.  People with influence and trust can help others achieve their health goals.

Applying the science of behavior change in the social networking space possibly may lead to better outcomes. [Side Note:  This area of behavior change needs to be further researched; additionally the idea of behavior change leading possibly to better outcomes is debatable.  I would like to delve further into this topic and write a future post with my stance after reviewing the research.]

In a meeting summary from the National Institutes of Health on the Science of Behavior Change, it concluded that:

“The science of behavior change has long suffered from fragmentation along scientific and topical boundaries…Yet because unhealthy behaviors cause so much morbidity and mortality, the status quo cannot prevail. There is, however, renewed hope that the NIH can facilitate progress by supporting research on basic mechanisms of behavior change and by fostering transdisciplinary efforts spanning Institutes, Centers, and levels of analysis.”  NIH SOBC Meeting, June 15-16, 2009 Meeting Summary

As stated above by the National Institutes of Health, “the status quo cannot prevail.”  Moving to the next level which incorporates utilizing the powerful social networking platform that harbors powerful social influence may be an answer to help foster healthy living.

Engaging with a powerful and influential supportive community of family and friends in the social circles, and having health experts offer action plans with inspiration and motivation to better manage chronic conditions and to improve overall well-being; individuals can be guided to better health efficacy.

A future post will reveal how telehealth companies are going beyond the standard social media networking and tapping into the power of social influence.

Your turn

We would love to hear from you. How do you influence your friends and family within your social networking circles?

Resources

Harvard Business Review – HBR Blog Network, “Pillars of Social Influence”

Deloitte – Social Networks in Health Care:  Communication, collaboration and insights

NIH Science of Behavior Change, Bethesda, Maryland, June 15-16, 2009
MEETING SUMMARY, National Institutes of Health

—

TAGGED:social networkingtelehealth
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
eHealthSocial Media

How Do We Search For Health Information?

July 2, 2013
Patient Cafe
eHealthMobile HealthSocial Media

Virtual Meet-Ups for Cancer Patients

April 14, 2015
Social Media Marketing, Medical Practice Marketing, Online Marketing
BusinesseHealthHospital AdministrationSocial Media

Social Media and Medical Practices: What Works and What Doesn’t

March 21, 2014

Health Care Social Media Review #57: The Ketchup Edition

July 11, 2014
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?