Physician Practice

Social media still a work in progress for physicians

Physician Practice Insider, January 26, 2016

The use of social media among physicians has gone mainstream during the past few years, but some physicians are still wary of its potential downside.

A 2014 study from the MedData Group found that most physicians use social media to keep up with healthcare news (40%), followed by engaging in discussions with peers (33%). Another 20% said they use social media to market their practice, and 7% said they use it mainly to provide thought leadership for patients.

The study also found that LinkedIn is the most popular social media site, used by 32% of respondents. That was followed by Facebook (21%), Google+ (10%), YouTube (8%), and Twitter (5%). In terms of specialists who use social media, ophthalmologists were the heaviest users, at 58%, followed by specialists in geriatrics (50%), psychiatrists (43%), and oncologists (40%).

The study shows the majority of physicians use social media for professional purposes—and experts say that’s the right path to follow.

This article was originally published in Physician Practice Perspectives. Subscribers can read the full article in the February 2016 issue.

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