Can Social Media Help Me Connect With Patients and Build My Practice? (Social Media Made Easy for Doctors and Healthcare Practitioners)

Social media isn't just for influencers and cat videos. Doctors and healthcare practitioners can leverage it too! This guide answers all your burning questions about social media: How to connect with patients, build trust, and even squeeze it into your busy schedule.

Social media is for doctors and healthcare practitioners too. Do you agree with that statement? It's probably the reason why you're reading this.

Lucky for you, you're in the right place. In this edition, we'll answer all your burning about social media:

• "How can social media help me connect with my patients and build my practice?"
• "Where and how do I start?"
• "Which social media platforms are most relevant for doctors?"
• "I'm too busy already. Is the time investment in social media worth it? How can I squeeze it into my schedule"

Social Media Makes Patient Education Fun & Engaging

Remember Dr. Pimple Popper? Well, who?doesn't?know Dr. Pimple Popper these days?

Sandra Lee, MD (popularly known as Dr. Pimple Popper) is a dermatologist who uses social media to share extraction videos. And she's also educating millions about skin health in a fun and interesting way, it's almost addicting to watch.

How to apply this to your practice’s socials:

1. Curate a list of common questions from your actual and potential patients about their condition.
2. Answer those questions using short videos, graphics, or simple text posts to explain their condition. Give expert tips on treatment options, lifestyle changes, and ways to prevent it.

Example: A cardiologist can share tips for better heart health. While for therapists, giving anxiety management techniques can also be a good idea.

Keep your videos short and sweet. Think 1-3 minutes. If possible, use visuals like diagrams or animations to explain complex topics. Always encourage conversation. Do this by asking open-ended questions and giving a call to action for your audience at the end of your video or caption to share their questions in the comments.

Build Trust. JUST BE YOURSELF.

Healthcare can sometimes feel impersonal. Social media allows you to show the human side of your practice and yourself too.

Dr. Daniel Amen, a celebrity psychiatrist known for his brain scan imaging, is a great example. Through social media, he shares his medical insights, a glimpse of his personal life, and stories of influential patients, all with their permission. His authenticity helps patients see him as a relatable person who is passionate about brain health.

So don't be afraid to show your personality while remaining professional. Show your passion for your field and your dedication to your patients' well-being. This will help you build trust, attract new patients, and grow your practice.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Always comply with HIPAA regulations when using social media.?Follow best practices like avoiding sharing patient details and asking for their written and signed consent when sharing their testimonials.

The Most Ideal Social Media Platforms For Doctors

You can use any social media platform, to be honest. But the most ideal platform isn’t one-size-fits-all. The general rule of thumb is to go for a platform your TARGET PATIENTS spend most of their time at.

Stay on top of the latest stats on social media use based on your target patient demographics. Take this Social Media Fact Sheet curated by Pew Research Center for example.

Furthermore, Pew Research Center also found that:

• 78% of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use Instagram, far higher than the share among those 65 and older (15%).
• 65% of U.S. adults under 30 report using Snapchat, compared with just 4% of the oldest age cohort.
• 62% of 18- to 29-year-olds say they use TikTok, much higher than the share among adults ages 65 years and older (10%).
• Americans ages 30 to 49 and 50 to 64 fall somewhere in between for all three platforms.

However, for healthcare and medical industry consultants and decision-makers, LinkedIn is still the best platform to be in.

How To Start Creating Content On Social Media

You might be thinking, “But I'm already busy. Can I really fit social media content creation in my calendar?”

Here's the secret: Start small. And if you have the financial capacity, delegate it. Here are some time-saving tips:

• Start easy. Share content you resonate with and find helpful for your patients.
• Waiting in a cafe queue for your morning coffee? Go ahead and write a short, informative post. A few well-crafted posts a week go a long way.
• Repurpose your content.?Did you give a fantastic presentation? Turn it into a blog post or a social media snippet.
• Schedule posts in advance.?Use scheduling tools to plan your content calendar and avoid daily scrambling.
• Delegate it! Consider working with a social media specialist with a healthcare background. Reliable offshore staffing providers like Phoenix Virtual Solutions can give you access to a pool of pre-vetted and HIPAA-trained Virtual Assistants who can manage your social media presence.

Consistency is key.?Even a few well-crafted posts a week can make a big difference. The key is to provide valuable content, engage with your audience, and showcase the best aspects of your practice.

PS. Struggling with managing your phone lines and keeping patients happy? Join our FREE webinar and discover innovative strategies to overcome telephone challenges in healthcare practices. Learn how to:

??Improve patient satisfaction with communication

??Streamline appointment scheduling and reduce no-shows

??Boost staff productivity and free them to focus on patient care

Register here: https://bit.ly/connecting-care