To healthcare professionals, Twitter may seem like an unnecessary form of social media. However, medical students and physicians alike can benefit greatly from those 140-character tidbits of information, according to Huffington Post contributor Brian Secemsky, MD.
Dr. Secemsky offered the following four ways the Twittersphere can enhance a physician's professional practice.
- Quick news source. Unlike LinkedIn and Facebook, Twitter is meant to connect users to sources and people with information, even if they are total strangers. Busy medical professionals can follow journalists, health policy foundations and healthcare leaders for up-to-the-minute curation of medical information, all in one place. Pro tip: Use the lists feature on Twitter to further tailor news and information.
- Networking tool. "It is not unheard of for project collaborations and formal mentorships to form from simple interactions via the Twitter community," according to Dr. Secemsky. Twitter provides a medium to connect professionally, especially on extra-clinical projects.
- Personal branding. Young physicians can especially benefit from personal branding on Twitter. Using the social media site to announce professional accomplishments, participate in the discussion of healthcare issues and share content with other professionals can help establish a young physician's commitment and identity online. Pro tip: Get involved with live Twitter discussions to share expertise and connect with professionals interested in similar issues.
- Professional management. Most medical professionals will have something floating on the Internet about them — from patient feedback on physician-rating sites to hospital or health system profiles. Establishing a Twitter account enables medical professionals to leverage their online presence to benefit them professionally.
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