Social media– almost everyone has it or has at least used it once. With more than 8 out of 10 Americans using social media and other digital resources to get their news, companies are making the shift to digital to keep up with the times. Retail stores are not the only ones making the shift, but so is the healthcare industry. In fact, at a time when many are encouraged to stay home, social media has become a resource for many to keep their health in check and look into any symptoms and conditions that are bothering them.
While social media sites continue to evolve, so does the way healthcare professionals use them as they find new and more effective ways to communicate with a large audience through social media.
Disseminating Information
Through social media, people can interact and share information more efficiently than before. Organizations in the healthcare industry make use of websites and social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to spread helpful information that allows people to know more about their body, how to take care of themselves better, and other general medical information that could prove useful to the public.
At times like these, social media is also an effective way to share news updates about health hazards, safety protocols, and even outbreaks to keep people in the know of what’s happening around them. Not only is this effective for adding to public knowledge, but it’s also helpful for healthcare facilities that need to provide information to patients.
Telehealth or telemedicine is now on the rise, often taking place on video conferencing applications like Zoom or Skype and utilizing mobile health apps and remote patient monitoring to properly treat their patients who can’t visit the hospital.
Promoting Awareness
Whether it’s about new health concerns or clearing up misinformation, social media plays an important role for medical professionals trying to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to the public. Raising public awareness is not only limited to providing updates about emerging health-related topics. It can also be used to give out reminders for common health practices, answer questions about common health concerns, and make sure that the public knows the latest health protocols and guidelines.
This is usually done in social media posts linking to credible sources or pointing viewers to the healthcare company’s website. One of the main goals of medical professionals and companies who utilize social media is to combat misinformation and ensure that the public is getting information based on facts from credible sources.
Marketing
Different organizations in the healthcare industry use marketing to promote their facilities, services, and products to consumers. Social media makes this process more efficient and allows these organizations to reach a wider audience.
For instance, many of those working from home may be experiencing back pain caused by prolonged computer use and improper posture. This may prompt some to look up ways to relieve this back pain. Healthcare facilities that utilize social media can use marketing strategies like SEO to promote their health tips for back pain relief, such as using massage chairs or creating an ergonomic workspace. They may also offer services to help strengthen and avoid straining one’s back.
Improving the Quality of Service
Social media is an abundant resource for comments and reviews, which can help healthcare organizations evaluate patient satisfaction and observe their competition to improve their own service. These organizations use social media by allowing patients to provide input on any services acquired and feedback on any medication or experience with their treatment that they’d like to share. This, in turn, allows health professionals to respond to a patient’s requests and innovate on new techniques that an organization can use to improve the quality of its service.
Real-time Updates
Social media is an effective way to give minute-by-minute updates on anything from hospital capacity to operation status to consumers without delay. During a pandemic, this can help those who need to visit a hospital or family members who would like to know the status of a loved one in the operating or emergency room. This will help people avoid wasting time going to the hospital and allow for social distancing. Healthcare facilities can permit family members to only enter the premises once a patient has recovered.
Social media is a powerful tool that allows the efficient dissemination of accurate information to a wide audience. While it may come with its flaws, technology has evolved. Even the healthcare sector has shifted to digital by utilizing social media to improve marketing and quality service. As technology continues to involve, we will likely continue to see how healthcare professionals will find different ways to make the healthcare process more efficient for both patients and doctors.