Hi everyone;

        I just wanted to share this article that I recently read in "Contemporary OB/GYN."  The article actually relates to Assignment Three that is due this week.  It is amazing the different tools we will be using in the future to relate to our patients.  Kim (2012) suggests that "social media, defined as various forms of online and mobile electronic communication with user generated content, is having a transformative impact on society and the way we communicate on a daily basis" (p. 40).  It appears that social media will definitely be the tool to link our communication with not only our friends but also our provider.  According to the literature providers are only using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkediln, and YouTube for their own personal use until some barriers like liability and patient privacy can be resolved.
        Kim (2012) explains that "direct messaging through social media sites, rather than public posts, is one strategy to ensure privacy of communications" (p. 42).  It appears that in spite of the barriers patients are showing interest in social media for patient-provider communication.  Furthermore patients are  reporting their experiences regarding their own medical conditions.  For example a "recent study used Twitter, mobile apps, and podcasts to help empower patients in a behavioral weight-loss intervention" (Kim, 2012, p. 44).  There are also many other ways that social media is being used in health care.  For example "providers have become early adopters of social media as a form of marketing and communication with the public" (Kim, 2012, p. 44). 
        Overall "social media allows free or low-cost marketing, help build brand name recognition and personalize interactions by developing relationships online, and providers can enhance their brand attractiveness by building social capital through audience engagement" (Kim, 2012, p. 44).  It is obvious that  this particular area of technology is the wave of the future.  Furthermore "by embracing these new tools, providers can communicate better with patients and expand their message to reach larger populations" (Kim, 2012, p. 46). 

Reference:

Kim, D. S. (2012).  Harness social media, enhance your practice.  Contemporary OB/GYN, 57(7), 40-46.  Retrieved:  CONTEMPORARYOBGYN.NET