#eHealthPromotion, #SaluteSocial

In the space of a few short years, Twitter has grown from several strands of inconsequential drivel to an information powerhouse. Originally conceived as a way to keep up to date with a small network of friends and family, the micro-blogging model, which sees the rapid exchange of quick-fire information, was soon recognised as an invaluable resource for professional organisations.

 

An area that has benefited in particular from this format is the healthcare industry, where the output of short bursts of relevant news and developments can mean the difference between life and death. Social media sites such as Twitter now represent the largest source of healthcare discussion in the world. Just as celebrities have found Twitter a useful platform for communicating directly with fans, Tweets cut out the media coverage middleman when it comes to providing accurate news in real time from healthcare professionals. Read on to find out how medical authorities and industry experts are using twitter accounts to change the way healthcare is delivered.

 

Via Lionel Reichardt / le Pharmageek, Philippe Marchal

What should my first tweet be?”

It’s a question John Barbieri, MD, was thinking about just after he created his account on the social media platform. The Dermatology chief resident decided to take the plunge and sign up with the goals of building a network, learning more about the latest from other researchers in his field, and promoting his own work. These specific inspirations were echoed by all of the doctors interviewed for this story as they started out on social media, but the challenges they face can be very unique to their profession.

 

Via Plus91, Philippe Marchal