Twitter for Physicians

I was asked to speak today on using Twitter in medical education at the 44th annual meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. I used Status Present, an incredibly cool software designed by Fred Trotter.  As I talked using these “slides”, they were tweeted at the same time.  It’s interesting to me that using this technology felt like a return to the era before Power Point, when talks were given by following “talking points” rather than slides.  It’s not going to be applicable to all talks, but this was really fun!

Twitter in #meded for #pedsurg – a presentation which will be live tweeted and will then be posted on my blog wellnessrounds.org

I blog and microblog (Twitter) because I am a teacher. #meded

Once you learn the details (easy) Twitter becomes a new platform to teach (and learn) #surgery

Why don’t more #physicians use Twitter?

4 reasons #physicians don’t use Twitter 1/4: “I don’t get it” Link to my post on Blogging, Microblogging and Time

Twitter is NOT email.  Twitter is NOT Facebook.

The best word to describe Twitter is “ephemeral”

Twitter is the surgeon’s lounge.  Walk in.  See who is there. Eavesdrop or join the conversation. Leave when you want.

4 reasons #physicians don’t use Twitter 2/4: “I don’t know how”

Two steps to start on Twitter.  1/2: Pick your @name (handle). Short is better.  Professional is essential. How To Choose a Good Twitter User Name

Two steps to start on Twitter. 2/2: Dive in. Follow a few people, then look at who they follow. Getting Started on Twitter

#hashtags can be a specific event or topic (#pedsurg) or for fun #ihaveglutealischemia How To Use Hashtags in Twitter

Retweet = repeating the conversation you heard in the surgeon’s lounge.

Filter Twitter conversations by making or following “lists” How to Create and Manage Twitter Lists

Twitter 101:  @name, follow @whoeveryouwant,, retweet what you like, follow (and unfollow) as you like, make lists  #havefun

4 reasons #physicians don’t use Twitter 3/4:  “I don’t have time”

Twitter is not email. You don’t have to read it all (you can’t).  #lesstimethanyouthink

Minimizing wasted time on Twitter: 1) Make lists 2) Follow specific #hashtags

4 reasons #physicians don’t use Twitter 4/4: “I don’t think it will help me”

5 ways Twitter helps #physicians. 1/5 Breaking news. @cnnbrk @msnbc_breaking @BBCBreaking

5 ways Twitter helps #physicians. 2/5 Medical (and other) emergencies. @CDCemergency @Houston_Weather @BCMHouston @TexasChildrens

5 ways Twitter helps #physicians. 3/5 Following meetings and thought leaders @APSASurgeons @AmerAcadPeds @BAPS1953 #pedsurg

5 ways Twitter helps #physicians. 4/5. Efficient way to follow journals & journal clubs. @NEJM @JAMASurgery http://bit.ly/10W3Q17

5 ways Twitter helps #physicians. 5/5 Discovering important information in your field or other fields.

Ex: @JAMA Surgery Comparison of #CT scan and #Sestamibi for #parathyroid localization bit.ly/ZrZeMu #PTH #endocrinesurgery

Twitter is particularly powerful for #physicians in #meded

Twitter links #physicians to #meded topics, resources and people

Ex (tools for #meded)  @amcunningham Electronic Clinical Logs/Portfolios for students lnkd.in/_vJPBM

Ex (resources) @bnwomeh Get free copy of ‘Paediatric Surgery: A Comprehensive Text For Africa’ at #eAPSA2013 reg desk img.ly/uuDF

Ex: (GME info) @TheNRMP Match Results Statistics for Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Hem/Onc ow.ly/kBVAg ow.ly/kBVCS

Ex (meetings) @BrianSMcGowan Please join our #eapsa2013 conversation 2-4 PMET via Twitter – as we help pediatric surgeons embrace #SoMe! #hcsm #meded #eapsa2013

Twitter is an important tool for #meded

You can’t stay with a rotary phone in a smart phone world… especially if you teach. #Meded

“When medical students see an attending with a newspaper they think it is quaint” @LouiseAronson #DontBeADinosaur