I woke up at 4 am and couldn’t sleep. So I checked my Twitter feed and found that my friend Ronan Kavanagh had pondered a question: Can you trust a doctor who bought followers on Twitter? Then I really couldn’t sleep. I don’t have an answer. And I don’t know how to quickly sniff out a contrived audience. But the idea that we can do this introduces a new truth ... Continue Reading about Would You Trust a Doctor?
What Counts in Medicine
Last year I was part of a small group charged with building a social media toolkit for medical schools. An early conference call participant made it clear that if the project didn’t meet certain criteria for academic advancement, he’d be unable to participate. It was the last time we heard from him. Unfortunate but predictable. What counts is what brings ... Continue Reading about What Counts in Medicine
Doctors and Secondhand Stress
This WSJ piece on Secondhand Stress is worth a peek. It profiles those fast talking, multitasking employees who pass their stress to those around them. Of course, I see the world through my own lens and all I could think of was doctors. The busy doctor is almost cliche. And patients are at risk for secondhand stress. "Rushing blocks thoughtful communication and ... Continue Reading about Doctors and Secondhand Stress
Rhode Island Doctors: Don’t be Misunderstood
Apparently in Rhode Island the State Board stipulates that physicians should not be misunderstood. Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline released Policy Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Social Media recently with the following assertion: "Physicians should always act professionally and take caution not to post information that is ambiguous or ... Continue Reading about Rhode Island Doctors: Don’t be Misunderstood
Spleen (Video) – What Does a Spleen Do?
This video from the Harvard Medical School Class of 2016, What Does the Spleen Do?, is worth a look. These class shows were once for a hyperlocal audience. Now they’ve got worldwide reach. While created for fun, these medical students hopefully grasped that idea that when it comes to health information, the way we package information is as important as the ... Continue Reading about Spleen (Video) – What Does a Spleen Do?
Should We Screen Doctors for Social Judgment?
It’s a recurring story that played itself out again recently. A medical student takes pictures of a patient and posts them on Facebook. This time the alleged victim is an inebriated supermodel and the student, one who defied direct orders to cease and desist. The result is a $1.5m lawsuit, an embarrassed institution, a ruined career, and most importantly, a patient ... Continue Reading about Should We Screen Doctors for Social Judgment?