If you're passionate about health care, and curious about social media – or vice-versa – than Thursday's presentation by the Social Media Club of Richmond (SMCRVA) is much better than must-see-TV. Seriously.
"ePatient: Social Media and Healthcare" is getting close to becoming another of SMCRVA's coveted sell-out events (45 tickets are left as of early Monday night), and the description of the evening should tell you why that's the case. Oh, yeah, also we're a big health care town, in case you dozed off when the banks and retailers all left.
The event happens this Thursday, April 15, at Theatre IV on West Broad Street, and sign up is as easy as visiting the event's Eventbrite page. Here's a snapshot of the evening:
How can we use social media to become healthier people, engaged in our health and change the way we think about health care? Social sites can enable people with similar diagnoses to connect and share treatment stories - what works, what doesn’t. Communities develop around healthy activities and members support one another. Health support groups, hashtags and sites such as PatientsLikeMe.com mean that we can get information right from those who have experienced what ever it is that we may be going through.
Increasingly, health care providers are also joining the conversation; they are learning how patients talk about health, what their needs are and what they are like outside of the exam room. The reverse is also true. When doctors and clinicians participate they offer online communities a source of qualified information as a trusted resource. Progressive physicians are beginning to think about new ways to improve health using social media.
On April 15 Social Media Club Richmond, in partnership with Bon Secours Virginia Health System, will present a panel discussion on the healthcare social media phenomenon. Our speakers are experts in the field of online healthcare information and conversation that represent two perspectives - patients and healthcare providers. The conversation is open to everyone since at some point we all care about our health
There's details on the panelists and moderator on the Eventbrite page for the event.
