Patients are the new darling of the medical-industrial complex. If you look around you will see patients advocating for one another. If you click a little closer you’ll find some with relationships to industry. It makes perfect sense that the manufacturer of a drug or medical device would want the blessings of our nascent cybercelebs. Some want genuine patient ... Continue Reading about Direct to E-Patient Marketing
Doctor, Don’t Heal Thy Kids
My daughter was sick this weekend with a terrible stomach virus requiring Zofran (anti-vomiting medication). Under normal circumstances I would call in the prescription into save our pediatrician a Sunday morning wake-up call. Our state medical board, however, is coming down on doctors who prescribe medications without proper documentation (i.e., what every ... Continue Reading about Doctor, Don’t Heal Thy Kids
Bring Back Sharpie Susan
I can’t say I understand it when major brands choose to represent themselves as logos on Twitter. Case in point is Sharpie. For the past couple of years I have been a huge fan of Sharpie Susan, the twitter persona of the Sharpie brand. Sharpie Susan was spunky and quirky, occasionally noisy, at times unpredictable, but definitely fun. She not only talked about ... Continue Reading about Bring Back Sharpie Susan
How Hospitals Can Facilitate Social Physicians
Last week Ryan Squire from the Ohio State University Medical Center asked me how doctors can be supported in their social participation. What can a hospital do to facilitate and support their doctor’s involvement? Or, how can hospitals or health organizations enlist doctors as conversation agents? This is an important question. Doctors are, after all, ... Continue Reading about How Hospitals Can Facilitate Social Physicians
Anonymity Foreign to Next Generation Physicians
I had a lot of comments on the recent physician anonymity post. One stood out. It was from a medical student, Nicholas Weaver, who builds the case against anonymity. He almost makes it seem strange. It's apparent from this comment that as digital natives grow into the medical profession, open social thinking will likely become the norm rather than the exception ... Continue Reading about Anonymity Foreign to Next Generation Physicians
How to Speak to Physicians About Social Media
Last night Susannah Fox put up the Bat Signal. It seems she’s been charged with addressing the American College of Surgeons next month and she’s looking for some creative input from the medical social community. Not surprising, really. Interest in social media among physician groups is growing fast. I thought it might be worth sharing a few random thoughts on ... Continue Reading about How to Speak to Physicians About Social Media