Why Physicians Must Be Online Sharing Expertise Online &

Mommy Blogging

Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAPPediatrician, Blogger, Speaker, Author

@SeattleMamaDocSeattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org

Now Is The Time To Innovate

• Physicians have an ethical obligation to share opinions online.

• Social media & the internet is where many patients live. We must join them there.

• Dwindling time in the exam room.

• Sharing expertise, a greater responsibility to public health.

Physician Mommy Blog

80% US Internet Users Look For Health Information

Why Convince Physicians

• Over 550 Million active users Facebook

• 8% of Americans are on Twitter– Claim over 800M searches daily

Social Media & Family

• 79% of moms (kids under 18 years) are using social networking sites

• >50% of Teens use social networks daily

• 22% Log in move than 10 times daily

• 75% of teens have cell phones– 54% use for texts, 25% use for social

media

Patients Are Online

Why Write A Blog?

Vaccine Hesitancy Changed Me

Evidence Based Medicine

Anecdote

Storytelling

You’ve Got No Choice

Confusing Experience with Expertise

video

Getting Past HIPAA

• We need to aim higher than HIPAA

• “Physicians on Twitter” February 9, 2011 in JAMA– Followed 260 Physicians on Twitter May 2010– Professional breach rare, but observed– 3% of tweets were “unprofessional”– 0.7% had potential patient privacy violations

Blogging

Professionalism in the Use of Social Media

• Physicians need to know standards of patient privacy

• Physicians should use privacy settings to safeguard personal information

• Physicians should monitor their internet presence

• Physicians should consider separating personal & professional content online

• Policing: when physicians see content by colleagues that is unprofessional, they have responsibility to discuss with individual and encourage it be taken down.

• Actions online may negatively affect their reputations with patients and colleagues and have consequences for their career

• Online content can undermine public trust in profession

Professionalism in theUse of Social Media

Vartabedian’s Rules for Social Media

• Never discuss patient-specific issues• Never be anonymous• Remember everyone’s watching• Be nice

Anonymity Has No Place

• To provide leadership and expertise, we need to stand behind our words

• Anonymity is often used to evade responsibility for actions/words

• Anonymity often works against the profession

• Anonymity doesn’t “protect” patients, it protects the author of the content

Seattle Mama Doc

Seattle Mama Doc

Seattle Mama Doc

Seattle Mama Doc

Seattle Mama Doc

Seattle Mama Doc

Facebook

Mobile Health

Patients Still Trust Doctors

• Pediatrics study April 2011—celebrities versus physicians on vaccine information

• 76% said they trusted their child’s doctor

• 26% trusted other healthcare providers

• 24% trusted a celebrity about health information

Media: Perceived Trust

Persuading Doctors

• The far majority of patients are reading about health online

• Physicians are responsible for moving science forward

• Help doctors find benefit in being online

• Get ambassadors and support from leadership

• Follow along, provide guidance and encouragement

A Pediatrician Mommy Blog• Deconstruct the divide between

patients&providers

• Be a voice of reason. Communicate with patients and a curious community

• Tell the real story