Re: Re: social media - couple questions

December 20, 2011

I am very active on Facebook, both on my personal page and on my office's page.

FB friends include family (ages 16-80), people from my past, folks from my

community, and kids from my church youth group. Being generally gregarious, I

basically post on FB as I would talk in person, so that is a good bit. And, as I

would do if talking to people directly, I do try to be respectful of social

norms and common decency.

I do have friends who are patients. But I also have accepted patients as friends

on Facebook with whom I have another relationship outside of the office. That

might include particular shared interests, or most commonly for me the large

Deaf community in Rochester. Being a long-time doc for many Deaf patients, and

Rochester having a big Deaf community, it all becomes something like small-town

medicine.

In the same way that a bad experience (or good experience) by a particular

patient in my office or under my care may be communicated to other patients

(whether by public news or private gossip) if I was in a small town, the same

goes in the Deaf community.

I see Facebook in the same light and thus am relatively more open than many docs

may be.

One caveat is that my patient friends on Facebook tend to be better educated and

more likely a professional than many of my patients as I am more likely to know

them outside the office in the first place.

Working for myself these past six years, during which Facebook has become part

of my life, also may shape my thinking as I represent only myself, and not a

larger organization. That said, shortly I am transitioning to just urgent care

work, and will be working for a small, privately-owned medical center. Some of

those employees are already friends on Facebook, and I don't see changing my

habits actually. At that point, all those prior patients are a bit more likely

to become real friends and then the FB issue won't matter!

--Tim

Malia, MD

(phone / fax)

www.MaliaFamilyMedicine.com

www.SkinSenseLaser.com

Malia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser

6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.

Perinton Square Mall

Fairport, NY 14450

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social media - couple questions

> > >

> > > Ãƒâ€š

> > > 1. anyone here use facebook and twitter to promote business?

> > > 2. do you have patients who are already or want to become facebook

friends? how do you politely say no or do you?

> > >

> > > grace

> > >

> >

>

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December 21, 2011

Interesting conversations

Would anyone have a print ad; that they felt was successful in bringing in new patients; feel free to share it?

I need to re write my ad and start to advertise again.

Thank you,

Debra

Thanks for all the links . I guess it just comes down toindividual preference. while some want to keep personal & professional lives separate I feel more comfortable mergingand " integrating " my life.

I try to behave the same with everyone. I wear the same thingto work as I do at home (no white coat and usually in Levis - sometimes even sweatpants). Patients seem to like the informal stye & I guess that is why they choose me ( & others do not)

I have a personal & professional facebook page and would feelcomfortable cross-posting anything from one to the other.Though tend to put more medical stuff on the MD page. . .They're open to the public and I friend anyone who friends

me. Got tons of patients as friends. . .Issues of concern:1) Confidentiality: I do not post medical information though Ihave posted pics of patients and they have not opposed(recent book signing party led to many patient pics on FB)

2) Not maintaining adequate pt-phy " boundaries " I have boundaries with patients that I maintain regardlessof being FB friends (no refills between appointments, nosexual relationships. . . etc. . .)

3) Lack of Professionalism. Trust in Profession. Again I go for the informal & transparent style of interaction. This may not be the way other docs behave, but I see no ethical issues here.People seem to be ready for a little less " professionalism " and artifice

and more transparency.4) Loss of objectivity. I try to treat all my patients " special " whether they are my friends or not. I don't Rx or refer more or less because they are friends. If I were a surgeon I may feel

differently slicing open my friends BUT in the FP realm I feel quitecomfortable.Articles also note the following warnings:1) Do not post derogatory comments about pts on social media.I can't imagine ever doing that.

2) Do not use social networking sites for whistle-blowing.Seems the wrong route for that certainly.I guess I don't care if patients read about my vacation,my family, or see my high school photos. . . I'm an open " face " book.

:)Pamela > > >

> > > We do use facbook, but there was an article that says that is not ethical. In NM, it is not ethical to have friends as patients, you can loose your license. WE see this occasionally at the Board when providers have their license restricted. Incrediable to me.

> > > > > > ________________________________> > > From: [ ] On Behalf Of pricklyfinger2007 [tagabanawa@] > > > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 7:15 AM> > > To: > > > Subject: social media - couple questions

> > > > > > > > > > > > 1. anyone here use facebook and twitter to promote business?> > > 2. do you have patients who are already or want to become facebook friends? how do you politely say no or do you?

> > > > > > grace> > >> > > >>

December 21, 2011

I will attach a question here, semi-related. Can anyone share how to keep tracking employees' hours? My FTE is easy. The part time, always 2-3 hours difference/ pay period. My payroll company has online sign in and out, but it has a cost. Suggestion? I thought about paper sign in/out, but wonder if onething easier or more organized.

Thank you. Wen