Tag Archives: twitter

Twitter for Physicians

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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

Blogging, Microblogging, and Time

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I have become so enamored with Twitter that I have been writing less for this blog…. which got me thinking….

doctor-twitter

Both my Twitter account and this blog serve the same purpose – to  serve as a “tool kit” for medical students, residents and practicing docs.  But it’s really interesting how different they are in accomplishing this goal.

Twitter is the equivalent of  the “surgeon’s lounge” – comments about interesting things you’ve seen or heard, showing people something in the news, or short pieces of advice.   Writing for a blog is more like sitting down in a quiet space with a colleague to discuss a topic, work on a project or give advice.

There is one important aspect of Twitter that is particularly interesting for physicians. If there is serious breaking news, Twitter will probably hear it first.   A good example is how the CDC uses Twitter. It can also be used to update everyone in a medical school or hospital.  Another interesting use of Twitter for physicians is “tweeting” medical meetings.

There is a learning curve for all social media.  Twitter, in particular, can become a remarkable time waster with little benefit.  If you are a busy student, resident or physician and want to use Twitter efficiently, here are some ideas that might help

  • A busy resident told me that he uses Twitter only for the news.  He gave up reading the newspaper and watching CNN to follow them on Twitter.  He reads the headlines and uses the link to read only the articles that interest him .
  • It’s not Facebook.  Anyone who starts tweeting about where they are going to get coffee gets “unfollowed” immediately.  For busy professionals, Twitter is not the best way to connect with friends.  It is, however, a fantastic way to connect you to communities, causes, issues, etc.  The way this is done is with hashtags (markers for a common theme).   For example, people interested in medical education use #meded.

Healthcare hashtag project

Medical hashtages on hashtags.org

  • It’s not email.  You don’t have to read them all.  If you have a minute, skim what’s there, but don’t worry about the rest.  Twitter is supposed to be ephemeral.

If you aren’t on Twitter and want to get started here are a few links to help: Newbies guide to Twitter from cnet.com, Twitter 101 from twitter.com, Twitter tutorial

On last (but incredibly important) thought. Using Twitter (or any social media) is different if you are in medicine. Every company has guidelines about using social media.  In medicina, we have a standard for how we can discuss what we do that is different than the rest of society.   Here’s some rules that will keep you safe.

  • Do not (ever) discuss a patient, post a picture of a patient or put anything online that could identify a patient.  This is the law (HIPAA) and it is our ethical and professional obligation.
  • Do not give medical advice via social media.  If you are contacted by a patient that you are really worried about, the only thing you can do is tell them which office/hospital to go to or where to call.
  • Do not put negative comments about a colleague or institution on social media.  If you need to ventilate, find a friend and go out somewhere.  Think of social media as the “microphone in the elevator”.  Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want someone in the future to “overhear”.  Digital = permanent.

One of the best guides on the use of social media in medicine comes from Austrialia and New Zealand.  It has some very illustrative scenarios and is beautifully (and succinctly) written.  If you are in medicine and using social media, it’s well worth the time to read this document.