Administrator's Dream or Nightmare?: Effective Use of Social Media in Clinical Settings

Social media can provide an effective venue for knowledge dissemination and professional collaboration.  Networking is essential to research development and the use of best practices, and electronic means of professional networking can amplify our efforts exponentially.  This presentation considers the rationale for using social media in the health care workplace and gives examples of effective use.  With planning and education, it is possible to take advantage of the benefits of social networks and distribution media while controlling risk.  Social media is valuable for educating patients and communities, promoting clinical agencies and programs, assisting with emergency response, fostering relationships, announcing initiatives, creating excitement, and improving internal and external communications.  This presentation offers reasons and tips for establishing a program of planned use of social media, educating workers in its protocols, finding and vetting appropriate information for distribution, and implementing safe social networking practices.