So you have finally created a Twitter account for your medical practice and are ready to take on the world of healthcare social media, but what’s the next step? Creating the account was a great milestone (which should be celebrated!), but that was the easy part of your twitter creation process. We see a lot of abandoned medical Twitter accounts that never get past that first milestone. Here are some useful next action steps you want to take for your medical group’s presence on twitter.
Follow thought leaders and trusted authorities within your medical field
No one except you knows better where to look to for trusted information within your medical specialty. For years you have followed them in the offline world, the printed world, and you now look for them in the world of healthcare social media.
- Twitter is a jungle, the “Healthcare Hashtag Project” will help jump start healthcare professionals’s social media engagement and guide them to the right people and #hashtags. The goal of this project is to make the use of Twitter more accessible for providers and the healthcare community as a whole. By lowering the learning curve of Twitter with a database of relevant hashtags to follow, they hope to help new and existing users alike to find the conversations that are of interest and importance to them.
- Start at the websites of your favorite medical journals. Many have already created a presence on Twitter.
- Industry organizations exist for the purpose of spreading their ideas and influencing decision makers. If they are not already on Twitter, it’s time to reconsider your membership. Look for their Twitter accounts.
Every medical specialty has a few more or less “famous medical groups“. These medical groups are known for their best practices on several areas of practice management. Perhaps they are also a “best practice” example in medical social media?- All physicians have been given a set of amazing talents. Some doctors are exceptional communicators. You probably know who they are within your industry. Look for these innovators on Twitter.
- Academic centers that focus on your specialty should be on your “follow list”. Sometimes they do not have a single official twitter account. Find the academic professionals that make up these centers–the researchers, the professors, etc. Remember to also look outside our borders. You might want to take a look at Europe, Canada, or any number of other countries as social media has created fascinating world-wide communities.
- ePatients have a very strong voice in healthcare social media. Politicians and media are often the first to respond to ideas and issues set forth by these very vocal patients. Follow these thought leaders and you’ll know what to expect in the future.
- Media and news organizations. In addition to medical journals, you should look for news organizations that either have a focus on your specialty or automatically aggregate news for it from multiple news sources.
Every medical specialty has a few more or less “famous medical groups“. These medical groups are known for their best practices on several areas of practice management. Perhaps they are also a “best practice” example in medical social media?
Who are the thought leaders following?
After exhausting your own knowledge using the list above, it’s time to look at who these thought leaders follow themselves.
- Take a look at the Twitter profile of these thought leaders. Do you spot some industry organizations, academic centers, journals, physicians you overlooked in your initial search?
- Save yourself some time and ignore those who follow thousands of twitter users as a result of their useless “you follow me, I’ll follow you” policy. You want to look at the lists of the “curators” of your industry.
Using tools to find your medical specialty “tweeps”
Have you discovered that the people you follow are tagging their tweets with hashtags like “#hcr” or “#hcsm” and want to know what they mean? The Healthcare Hashtag Project will not only let you know their meaning, but it will also give you a convenient list of the most active users for these hashtags and other related hashtags–A great way to discover social media influencers.- Twitter has just launched a feature that might be of help to you in your search. There’s now an algorithm that will find and suggest who you should follow based on who you already are following.
- search.twitter.com enables you to search for people using keywords, real names, location etc.
wefollow.com is currently the most used twitter directory. Search using your specialty as the tag. For example: Searching for “orthopedics” gives you a list of 35+ Twitter users.
Following these actions should be a great kick-starter for your medical practice’s twitter profile.
There are many ways to go about finding the right people to follow. Let me know if you have additional ideas or comments!
92 Responses to “Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty”
Fox ePractice
Who to follow on Twitter within a medical specialty? Advice on finding the right people http://ow.ly/2kJPT #doctors #hcsm #epatients #hcmktg
Epractice
[…] Not At Ground Zero, But …Pulmonary Specialty: Who to Follow on Twitter – Fox ePracticeWho to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty – Fox ePractice […]
Angel Gonzalez
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #ehealth #hcmktg #doctors #hcsmeuES
Angel Gonzalez
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Michelle Petersen
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Michelle Petersen
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Alicia
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Alicia
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ehealthgr
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ehealthgr
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Candy Perry
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Candy Perry
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P. F. Anderson
RT @CandyEfH: RT @angel189: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #ehealth #hcmktg #doctors #hcsmeuES
Pat Jonas
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty: http://bit.ly/9LIqv2 via @addthis interesting info. Onward.
Ryan Weckerly
RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #hcsm #hcmktg #doctors #ehealth http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ
Texas Medical Assoc.
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Texas Medical Assoc.
RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #hcsm #hcmktg #doctors #ehealth http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ
HPHealthcare
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HPHealthcare
RT @texmed @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #hcsm #hcmktg #doctors #ehealth http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ
MS Hospital Assoc.
Who to follow on Twitter within your med. specialty http://www.foxepractice.com/blog/who-to-follow-on-twitter-within-your-medical-specialty/
MS Hospital Assoc.
Who to follow on Twitter within your med. specialty http://www.foxepractice.com/blog/who-to-follow-on-twitter-within-your-medical-specialty/
Mark Ragan
This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
http://bit.ly/bBXmQ3
Mark Ragan
This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
http://bit.ly/bBXmQ3
Lisa LaMagna
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
http://bit.ly/bBXmQ3
Lisa LaMagna
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
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Louise Stone
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
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Louise Stone
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
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Jr.Senior
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
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Jr.Senior
RT @MarkRaganCEO: This is great resource for Healthcare PR: Creating a Twitter strategy: Whom should you follow:
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Ronnie Lassiaille
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #twitter #ehealth #hcmktg #doctors
Ronnie Lassiaille
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #twitter #ehealth #hcmktg #doctors
BUSchool of Medicine
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BUSchool of Medicine
RT @RonnieLass: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #twitter #ehealth #hcmktg #doctors
iMomentous
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #hcsm #hcmktg #doctors #ehealth http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ
iMomentous
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #hcsm #hcmktg #doctors #ehealth http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ
Stephanie Stephens
Who're u following in your hc practice? Good resources, info here also re hastags, following http://bit.ly/aYsprj
Stephanie Stephens
Who're u following in your hc practice? Good resources, info here also re hastags, following http://bit.ly/aYsprj
Zizzo Group
Some insight on Twitter in the medical specialty: http://ow.ly/2VYbf
Zizzo Group
Some insight on Twitter in the medical specialty: http://ow.ly/2VYbf
Zizzo Group
Some insight on Twitter in the medical specialty: http://ow.ly/2XSfP
Zizzo Group
Some insight on Twitter in the medical specialty: http://ow.ly/2XSfP
TexAnne
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TexAnne
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Audun Utengen
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Audun Utengen
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SEEdMedicalPublisher
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SEEdMedicalPublisher
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Dr Marcus Tan
RT @antidoped: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/1GUTQJ9 via @foxepractice
Dr Marcus Tan
RT @antidoped: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/1GUTQJ9 via @foxepractice
Audun Utengen
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Audun Utengen
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Robert S. Miller, MD
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Robert S. Miller, MD
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Yitzhak Margolis
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Yitzhak Margolis
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Liza Sisler
RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Liza Sisler
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Vernon Dutton, R.N.
RT @lizasisler: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Vernon Dutton, R.N.
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Eastern Ranges GP
RT @drmarcustan: RT @antidoped: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/1GUTQJ9 via @foxepractice
Eastern Ranges GP
RT @drmarcustan: RT @antidoped: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/1GUTQJ9 via @foxepractice
Cara
RT @lizasisler: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Cara
RT @lizasisler: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Ed Bennett
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Ed Bennett
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pierret
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pierret
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Abby Lowe
RT @lizasisler: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Abby Lowe
RT @lizasisler: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Vince Ojeda
RT @boogordoctor: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Vince Ojeda
RT @boogordoctor: RT @EdBennett: RT @foxepractice: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Pam Span
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Pam Span
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knobbemedical
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knobbemedical
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ReginaColleen Heater
Foxepractice list of "who to follow". Its a start. http://is.gd/veAw9Z (via @nickdawson) // great ideas.
ReginaColleen Heater
Foxepractice list of "who to follow". Its a start. http://is.gd/veAw9Z (via @nickdawson) // great ideas.
Audun Utengen
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Audun Utengen
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://bit.ly/9x4AXQ #hcsm #hcmktg
Thomas M. Lee
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://ow.ly/4TFGd .. Helpful steps for new Docs on Twitter. #hcsm #doctor
Thomas M. Lee
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://ow.ly/4TFGd .. Helpful steps for new Docs on Twitter. #hcsm #doctor
EHRoutlook
RT @tmlfox: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://ow.ly/4TFGd .. Helpful steps for new Docs on Twitter. #hcsm #d …
EHRoutlook
RT @tmlfox: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://ow.ly/4TFGd .. Helpful steps for new Docs on Twitter. #hcsm #d …
Laura Baselaar
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #yam http://bit.ly/aYsprj
Laura Baselaar
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty #yam http://bit.ly/aYsprj
Alex den Haan
“@LAURArecruit: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/cfCgYKF”
Alex den Haan
“@LAURArecruit: Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/cfCgYKF”
Sohail Bajammal
#SaudiMedEd Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty? http://fb.me/14XjEK1dS
Sohail Bajammal
#SaudiMedEd Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty? http://fb.me/14XjEK1dS
Charlene Havens
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://ht.ly/6jgVS via @foxepractice
Charlene Havens
Who to follow on Twitter within your medical specialty http://t.co/AOL1hun via @foxepractice
Pulmonary Specialty: Who to Follow on Twitter
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