How to Get a PhD in Social Media

You’re probably reading this title and saying to yourself PhD in social media? I’m a doctor, I’ve gone to enough school or how does social media apply to me I’m a nurse practitioner! Well ladies and gents, social media is getting bigger and better every day, enabling you to connect with patients outside the EHR anywhere, anytime. Its full potential is yet to be determined but you can get a head start against your medical competition by upping your social strategy. Here’s some tips from a Social Media Specialist (I don’t have an “official” PhD yet).

1. Join as many networks as you can
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn-these are my top three and are the best resources for gaining a bigger clientele, for free. Networking has moved to the cloud (much like our EHR) and creating a Facebook page for your practice, Twitter handle or joining a LinkedIn group, are the best baby steps you can take.

Tip: Practice Fusion EHR users love photos, it’s a great way for us to have a real relationship with our users and let them in on what is going on in HQ. What we love even more than taking our own snapshots is seeing your photos of your practices in action.

2. Actively participate in medical forums
Now it’s time to connect with colleagues and others in your field. Forums are a great way to get advice on the latest technology in healthcare, share customizable templates and learn the best EHR implementation tricks.

Tip: Join these: Quora, Sermo, Spiceworks, FOCUS and the Practice Fusion User Forum

3. Sharing is caring
Most tech savvy sites enable you to have the ability to share anything you find interesting. When you share, you introduce your network to new information which they then share and eventually it becomes a spider web of quality information in which you learn something new every day. Soon enough you will become a go-to guy or gal for the latest in health.

Tip: Best places to share include: Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Blogger, Google Buzz and Email

*Like something on practicefusion.com? We always have the share widget and appreciate the love.

Those are just a few of the ways you can connect with others in the vast healthcare sector. Feel free to share your best practices. Interested in kicking off your social media strategy by blogging? We are always looking for new bloggers for EHRB! Email me at shea@practicefusion.com, if interested.

Shea Steinberg

Shea Steinberg is a proactive Social Media Specialist at Practice Fusion. She maintains all of Practice Fusion’s social networks and is constantly promoting our EHR in the social media sphere. Also an active member of the EHRBlogger team, she writes about everything Healthcare IT, while using her sass to make a joke or two along the way. Whether it’s breaking news or a new social media tool for doctors, she’s on top of it. When not reaching out via social media, Shea cheers for her Alma mater, The University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!) and enjoys discovering new places in San Francisco. Connect with Shea: