Medical Billing and Coding Certification has compiled a list of hospitals that use social media in innovative ways to facilitate communication with the community, patients and other health organizations. This slideshow features some of the hospitals that have inspiring social media strategies. Click on the images to enlarge.
[See also: 10 tips for optimal social media use.]
Mayo Clinic’s social media network is a hub for patients and doctors to connect via social media. Their social media presence extends to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more. Mayo Clinic uses these outlets for health promotion campaigns, and hosts the Health Care Social Media Summit.
Scott & White was one of the hospitals treating patients during the Ft. Hood shooting crisis. Employee Steven Widman used Twitter to share updates with the community, such as ER access, hospital operation status, Red Cross news and more. Their Twitter followers increased by 78% in only three days, and their YouTube channel was one of the most-viewed non-profit channels during the crisis.
Nebraska Medical Center has established a strong presence on YouTube, and encourage patients to share their experience, as well as makes use of QR codes to share videos of physicians introducing themselves to potential patients. One patient shared a video of her experience of the surgery she had to treat her rare carcinoid cancer. So many people requested this procedure after seeing the video that the hospital had to open a monthly clinic for the condition.
Using social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, UCSF raised more than $1 million to build a new children’s hospital in Mission Bay, which will be completed in 2014. The fundraising contest, named Challenge for the Children, got the attention of 165,000 people who donated to the cause.
When Geisinger Health System had trouble getting enough responses to ads for recruiting gastroenterologists, they turned to social media. With a recruiting marketing firm, Geisinger created a social media physician recruitment campaign.
Henry Ford Hospital live-tweeted brain surgery, and even uploaded videos of the procedure to YouTube.
Scripps uses social media to connect with patients and customers. They developed a new position of Electronic Customer Service Representative to reach out to patients through social media and respond to online reviews.
With more than a half a million fans, Children’s Hospital Boston’s Facebook page is an example of the significant connections that can occur through social media in healthcare. Highlighting the stories of patients and families, the photo of the week brings many visitors to their Facebook page, increasing engagement. The hospital also manages a Twitter feed and YouTube channel.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been using social media for more than three years. The growth of their social networks has influenced their strategy, and they see Twitter as a vital component of their communications.
YouTube is a great tool to share individual experience. Children’s Medical Center Dallas manages a YouTube channel that features inspiring stories from patients and their families. They also used Twitter to share updates on a kidney transplant, hoping to raise awareness for organ donation.
Doctors and professors at University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences use Twitter as a tool for education and training. Dr. Philip L. Glick manages his own Twitter feed to share knowledge and updates. The university also uses social media to share audio and video of procedures.
Southcoast Hospital used its Twitter feed to share updates during a crisis involving chemical fume exposure at a trash disposal station. The hospital shared the status of patients as well as helpful information and links to keep patients’ families and the public abreast of the situation.
