Social Media Use in the Medical Setting: The Social Surgeon

Description

In this presentation, Christopher Raynor discusses the increasing relevance and integration of social media in medical practice. He begins by emphasizing the need to safely incorporate social media into healthcare, while outlining four fundamental considerations for medical professionals: the theme of their social media presence, their personal brand, the mission of their account, and the target audience. Raynor explains the differences between being purely educational and presenting a lifestyle, and encourages orthopedic surgeons to think about how they want to be perceived online.



He provides insights into the importance of patient privacy and confidentiality, specifically discussing HIPAA in the U.S. and PIPEDA in Canada, highlighting the need for compliance to maintain patient trust and legal standards. Raynor advocates for using social media to enhance patient education and communication, while stressing the significance of being relatable and humanizing the medical profession.



As he covers technical aspects of social media, he warns practitioners about unique identifiers that should be avoided in patient-related posts unless consent is given. Raynor also stresses the importance of timing and platform-specific strategies to effectively engage the audience, reminding the audience that social media requires substantial effort and that posts should reflect valuable, shareable information. The overall take-home message underscores the lasting impact of online presence, urging medical professionals to be mindful of their interactions and to uphold ethical standards in their communications.

Specialties