Why did you start blogging and why do you think you have been so successful?
I started blogging back in 2004. At that time there were less than 100 physicians blogs. I started blogging because I thought a blog was a great way to provide commentary from the physician perspective that is often lacking in news reporting today. It was after two or three years of constantly doing it that I realized it had become a powerful media to connect patients and doctors.
How do you maintain your social media presence while still practicing medicine?
I post between five to eight blogs a day, a lot of them are guest blogs, but I contribute three to four pieces a week. I am not going to lie, being engaged in social media is a commitment and does take time. I start by blogging early at 4 in the morning and am usually done around 6. I see patients during the day, and in the evening I spend time with my family. I wouldn’t do it if it was not extremely rewarding.
What is the biggest misconception that physicians have when it comes to social media?
Doctors don’t think it has a lot of medical application. They think it is something that is done outside the office. I often point them to research that shows eight out of 10 users look for health information online and only a quarter of these users check the source of information. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Docs need to be ready to discuss it and correct any misconceptions that patients read online.
What trends do you see emerging related to social media use in physician practices?
More and more hospitals are realizing it is a great way to connect with patients and are exploring what the platforms offer. And physician practices are starting to as well. Having involvement in social media helps expand providers digital footprint.
Should physicians ever connect directly with patients via social media?
I don’t advise it. Providing personal medical information online especially if you don’t know them is dangerous, and it opens you up to a litany of malpractice lawsuits.
So many physicians look to you as a leader in this space. What is the most important thing you could share with them?
One piece of advice I have is: Do what you are comfortable with. For doctors who are more cautious they can start by going on Twitter and listening to thought leaders and as they become more comfortable can add their own voice. That process needs to be gradual though. They need to recognize the pros and cons of being involved.
What has been your most memorable moment in the blogosphere?
Early on in my blogging journey a patient brought in a print-out from the Web, and it was something that I had posted on my blog. It was then that I realized I can make a difference and that it could be embraced by doctors to amplify their voice and connect with patients in a way that they couldn’t before.
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