Buzzfeed has profiled a group of medical residents who have published pictures of themselves asleep. It’s fascinating, really. More of a phenomenon than a movement. There appears to be no unifying message, organization, or call to action. Rather a soft, civilly disobedient show-of-force fueled by social contagion and the need to be heard. A pig-pile of digitally ... Continue Reading about Dozing Doctors and Digitally Mediated Whining
When Your Boss Mandates Twitter
I had lunch with a surgeon recently. Salad, hummus and small talk. Then he announces, “My boss wants me to be on Twitter. He wants me to Tweet. You know, become a Twitterer.” The sarcasm was palpable. Here’s the problem: Nobody can make someone participate in a conversation. They can try, but it won’t work. We have to come into public dialog because we want ... Continue Reading about When Your Boss Mandates Twitter
Why Your Twitter Disclaimer Doesn’t Make Sense
It seems that I’m the only individual in the free world without a Twitter disclaimer that ‘my tweets are my own.’ You’ve seen them, I’m sure. Vague disclaimers invariably copied from someone else intended to create a fuzzy feeling of security. Here’s why I believe token disclaimers don’t make sense: You represent your organization. While you may not deliver ... Continue Reading about Why Your Twitter Disclaimer Doesn’t Make Sense
The New York Times’ Digital Health Humiliation
If you read nothing else this week it would be Nick Bilton’s inexplicable piece in The New York Times. His loose attempt to draw parallels between the effects of health apps and cigarettes amounted to nothing short of professional suicide. And the fact that his source was Joseph Mercola should serve as an embarrassment to anyone even remotely associated with The New ... Continue Reading about The New York Times’ Digital Health Humiliation
What if Health Communication Was Like Buzzfeed?
Not long ago I was reviewing a piece of patient education material that was due for revision. It was long, dry, and read like my seventh grade health ed textbook. It didn't work. Then I thought to myself, what if this were written like some of the successful websites that I visit every day? What if our education material had the flair of Buzzfeed, Mashable and ... Continue Reading about What if Health Communication Was Like Buzzfeed?
The Risk of Not Participating
At a social media healthcare conference last week, a physician speaking warned that when posting, think how it could affect your work. I'd turn the question on its head and ask if you don't post how will that affect your work. What’s the professional risk of not sharing your ideas? The original warning reflects our tendency to look at public dialogue only from ... Continue Reading about The Risk of Not Participating