Social Media: Barbara Ficarra on FOX News Live Talks About Medical Social Networking
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 21:21By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA
Social networking and health care
Part One
Medical Professionals are using social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube to engage patients in their health.
They are using it to provide accurate information to help educate patients and to help empower them to be proactive and take charge of their health.
I joined Dr. Marc Siegel, host of FOX NEWS to talk about how medical professionals and patients are using social networking.
Watch Here – Barbara Ficarra talks with Dr. Marc Siegel about Medical Social Networking
Thank you to FOX NEWS for focusing on this hot topic. I’m grateful I was given the opportunity to talk briefly about social media and health care.
In Part Two I will write a Q&A on Social Media: Medical Social Networking. I will give examples of medical professionals and hospitals engaging in social media, useful health sites and online communities for patients and more.
Your turn
We would love to hear from both medical professionals and patients. How do you engage in social media? Patients, what communities do you use? Please share your experience with us.
As always, thank you for your time.
[Please note: I'd like to give proper credit to Gary Schwitzer's website mentioned in the clip - it is HealthNewsReview.org, an excellent resource for journalists and consumers.]
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Part 2 – Edited Segment 6 minutes and 17 seconds
Medical Professionals Engaging in Social Media – A Comprehensive Guide…Full Story>
Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, is an award-winning journalist, media broadcaster, speaker, medical blogger, consultant, media trainer, and health expert. She is creator, executive producer and host of Health in 30® Radio Show. Barbara is a registered nurse active on the front lines of health care: She is a head nurse at a level 2 trauma center and covers multiple medical and surgical units, critical care, oncology, cardiology and step-down units, the psychiatric in-patient unit and the Women’s and Children’s units, pediatric ER and Barbara has many years experience covering the main emergency room. Her clinical experience ranges from oncology to general medicine and surgery. 
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Dr. Alec Hochstein says:
March 9th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
The Social network is all about connecting, with patient,s, colleagues, business professionals, and researchers. It provides a sense of transparency which is often lost behind the walls of large institutions and insurance companies. I enjoy practice very much, but what is it exactly that I enjoy? Well in my practice as a podiatrist, I of course find enormous satisfaction in relieving a persons pain, or resolving an infection or playing a role in the healing of a chronic wound. Those are all amazing things to get up in the morning to do, but it is he daily interactions with my patients and colleagues that is truly fulfilling. The social network only increases that feeling. It takes all of the “not so fun stuff” away. When I socially network, I can speak to thousands of people at one time, I can receive instant feedback and suggestions, or answers to questions. It is one of the greatest tools, if used properly and not exploited. I have encouraged many health professionals from doctors to nurses to radiology techs to utilize the social network and reach outside of constraints of their physical practice, it has greatly enhanced my practice experience, I hope to see you in cyberspace soon.
Dr. Alec Hochstein
Follow me on Twitter @iPodiatrist