Social Media in Health Communication - Improving Patient Care

Technology and the internet are transforming society. They are changing the way we talk to each other, work with one another and organise our lives. The impact technology can have in healthcare is profound and transformative. Used correctly, social media can increase the effectiveness of your communications to, and engagement with, audiences and stakeholders. The growth in Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites seems to offer the NHS some genuine opportunities to spread important health messages, support patients in new cost-efficient ways, and keep staff; informed, in the loop, motivated and happy.

Electronic media is an integrated reality in many people’s daily lives. Using technology for shopping, banking, completing tax returns, and withdrawing cash are common practices for many of us. The ability to use email for non-confidential communications with healthcare professionals, or the opportunity to have a remote consultation with a doctor using the telephone or online technology, would often be a more convenient way for us to access NHS services.  However, the NHS, whilst being at the forefront of clinical technologies, has tended to lag behind in communications technology, with face-to-face interactions generally being the default option.

Objectives

Rising healthcare inflation, an ageing population and increasing public expectations will soon make the current healthcare system unaffordable. The NHS needs to change and move with the times. This means utilising alternative mechanisms beyond the simple face-to-face interaction. There are Healthcare workers who are keen to exploit the explosive growth of social media to engage the general public. For example, media such as Twitter and Facebook can be useful tools to seek out hard-to-reach groups or deliver information to support specific campaigns.

Attendance at this course will provide you with knowledge and skills that you can take back to your workplace to the benefit of yourself and your organisation and the wider health and care system, including:

• Embedding social media at a corporate as well as clinic level
• Giving you the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence to embrace digital opportunities to deliver better health, better care and better value for all
• Understanding the benefits of and how to implement a digitally enabled and technologically ambitious health and care system

09/07/2013 09:30 - 16:15