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
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    December 22, 2021
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    April 6, 2022
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    August 30, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 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
    Why are Girls Being Abandoned and Battered ?
    August 20, 2012
    biopharma beat innovation and imagination
    BioPharma Beat: Imagination Is More Important Than Innovation
    August 5, 2014
    HIPAA Compliance Breaches Higher Than Ever: What Are You Doing About It?
    April 26, 2016
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Twitter Moves Markets: Can It Impact Disease?
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 > Twitter Moves Markets: Can It Impact Disease?
eHealthPolicy & LawSocial MediaTechnology

Twitter Moves Markets: Can It Impact Disease?

Kevin Campbell
Kevin Campbell
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

For those who are engaged in social media, nothing is more powerful than an active Twitter account.  Twitter demands engagement and fosters a sense of community.  Medicine, although quick to adopt many new technologies has been slow to embrace social media outlets and, in particular, Twitter.  The ability to share ideas and information in 140 characters provides a unique platform for physicians to communicate with one another, with patients and with the world.

For those who are engaged in social media, nothing is more powerful than an active Twitter account.  Twitter demands engagement and fosters a sense of community.  Medicine, although quick to adopt many new technologies has been slow to embrace social media outlets and, in particular, Twitter.  The ability to share ideas and information in 140 characters provides a unique platform for physicians to communicate with one another, with patients and with the world.  Twitter allows physicians to teach, to counsel, to support and to dispel rumors and myths.  Twitter allows physicians from different parts of the world to consult with one another and share knowledge in order to determine the best treatment plan for a particular disease process or patient.  Twitter affords patients with an opportunity to connect with other patients who may have similar medical problems and challenges.

Recently, as many who follow the financial markets are aware, the Dow Jones average took a 144 point plunge in 2 minutes.

Social media healthcare

Fortunately, the market quickly rebounded and within a few minutes was back to its opening level.  The SEC determined that a tweet suggesting violence or terrorism at the White House was responsible for the plummet.  The tweet had been produced from a “hacked” Associated Press (AP) twitter account.  As reported in the New York Times today, regulators have taken notice to the power of social media.  The incident with the stock market serves to further demonstrate the influence that twitter and other social media outlets can have on human behavior as their repercussions on government and financial institutions.  In the case of the Boston bombing tragedy on April 15th, social media and mobile technologies provided much needed evidence and assisted in police efforts to apprehend the men who carried out the senseless attack.

So, why are physicians and other healthcare providers so reluctant to embrace Twitter?

I think that there are several reasons and many valid concerns.  Here are some of the most common: (The Top Three Questions I get when discussing social media with physicians)

1. “Silly Rabbit, Twitter is for kids”–Dispelling the Myth

eHealth

Most often, when I ask colleagues, they respond by saying that twitter is something that their kids use on their iphones.  They do not see it as a viable option for a serious medical professional.  However, done correctly, Twitter has the potential to impact patients, physicians and healthcare as a whole.

2.” I’m Late, I’m Late, I’m Late !”  Twitter is time consuming–This is absolutely the truth

Providing engaging and meaningful twitter content takes time and research.  Physicians must commit to the daily effort of developing new tweets that make people want to follow you and engage in conversation.  Just as time management during residency and fellowship was critical to success, time must be set aside every single day and devoted to producing content and engaging with those in cyberspace.

healthcare marketing

3. Twitter may not be something my lawyer wants me to use–Legal implications of online engagement are real.

Before embarking on a social media campaign in medicine, it is essential that you meet with a legal professional and develop guidelines for your social media presence.  Understanding exactly what constitutes a doctor-patient relationship and the nuances of HIPAA laws are important considerations.  An excellent resource is www.lawandmedicine.com.  Victor Cotton, a MD, JD provides wonderful insight into these issues and can be a great place to start.  By having a good understanding of the legal issues surrounding online professional interactions and using a little common sense, many pitfalls can be avoided completely.

healthcare marketing strategy

So, What is the bottom line?

Twitter is a powerful tool. To date, only a very small percentage of healthcare professionals are engaged.  Not surprisingly, the new generation of physicians that are training today are much more involved in twitter and other social media outlets.  A recent survey found that 95% of all medical students use at least one form of social media as compared to 40% for practicing physicians.  Twitter provides an enormous opportunity to impact disease, educate our patients and interact with and learn from colleagues.  WE, as physicians, must act now–we must shape the way in which social media will be utilized in medicine in the future.  The time is now–we can move markets AND impact disease.

social media healthcare marketing

More Read

InVivo Therapeutics Treats the Spinal Cord Itself, A Novel Technology
Pushing the Envelope of Concierge Care
“To be Effective, Patient Engagement Must be Defined”
Here’s How To Learn More About Health And Wellness
Sacramento Area Counties to Test HealthCare Reform
TAGGED:doctor-patient relationshippatient engagement
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

facebook dislike
BusinessFinanceSocial Media

Are You Wasting Your Time with Facebook?

January 15, 2015

Why You Should Care About Your Personal Health Record and Access to Your Data

June 13, 2014
ebola hysteria
Public Health

Ebola Hysteria in Ohio

November 7, 2014

First Wave of MU Stage 2 (2014 Edition) Draft Test Procedures Released

September 9, 2012
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?