TogoRun’s June 15th event “Public Health: What’s Digital Got to Do With It?” moderated by Dr. Val Jones (@drval) attracted a capacity crowd at the Pew Research Center and sparked a vibrant discussion on Twitter of, among other things, how health institutions are using social media and how digital innovation is improving public health.
Susannah Fox
Panelists and self-proclaimed “internet geologist” Susannah Fox (@SusannahFox) of the Pew Internet and American Life Project discussed examples of social media being used for quick dissemination of time-sensitive information in the public health sphere including the FDA and CDC’s use of blogs, SMS, podcasts, video and tweets to alert consumers – especially the powerful “mommy blogger” cohort – of Salmonella-tainted peanut butter last fall. She also gave the audience a preview of new research in the works designed to discover what happens when a person receives a life changing diagnosis and uses the social media resources available to them – and where subsequent conversations happen both on and offline.
Maya Linson
Presenter Maya Linson (@mlinson, @NAPH1981) appeared on behalf of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, which represents the nation’s safety net hospitals and health systems – those that care for patients regardless of ability to pay. She shared examples of NAPH members’ use of social media as a practical resource to enhance patient experience, handle emergencies and conduct community outreach and education. “Social media gives patients a voice,” said Maya, citing the example of one Ohio State University Medical Center employee (@OSUMC) who intercepted irritated Twitter posts from a patient unhappy with his long wait to see his physician. Just by responding and following up, the OSUMC employee’s actions turned the patient’s posts from negative to neutral to advocacy, when the patient went on to re-post the hospital’s public health alerts on Twitter.
Erin Enke
TogoRun digital strategist Erin Enke ((@TogoRun) reminded the audience that social media can affect people’s health behaviors and even save lives, which she demonstrated through a TogoRun case study example of a disease awareness campaign for Hepatitis B in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Learn more here.
While the panelists discussed the value of social media, many in the audience, mostly representing government programs, nonprofits and members of the health community, were practicing it by engaging in a parallel discussion via Twitter using the hashtag #digitalhealth. The conversation continues and we encourage you to join in.
For a fuller account and to watch the full video of the event, click here!
