More and more each day, doctors are using social media to correspond with patients. Be it a quick Facebook chat confirming an appointment or a possible diagnosis via Twitter reply, some doctors have been very quick at adapting this technology. Why? It’s a quick way of corresponding with people where you know if they get it immediately and it makes the doctor more available, so patients feel at ease around them. In years past, doctors were placed on a pedestal that made many everyday people intimidated. Now, using social media, doctors can track medical trends and even make an approximate diagnosis, such as, “Sounds like it could be dehydration. Try re-hydrating yourself and if your temperature still doesn’t go down, come and see me in the morning.” It makes the patients feel at ease and makes the doctors appear interested in helping their patients first and foremost (a philosophy often overshadowed with medical billing).

Are you a Doctor that wants to connect more with his patients and build a relationship with them that extends out of the office? Then social media would be a great step in making your patients know how much you value them and their time.