Healthcare & Social Networks: Don't Fear, Embrace

The Executive Director of InHealth offers thoughts on internal social Media struggles in a special ND&P guest post:

It's interesting that institutions block employee access at work to social networking web sites.  First, it suggests they don't trust their staff to spend their time wisely.  Whoa!  And these are the folks with my life in their hands?  Second, we're up to our ears in social networking and it's being used for business applications.  For example, we're seeking someone for the attached position and we're putting it into as many social networking sites as we can – and getting solid responses.  And the position itself is really all about social networking – with health policy experts, academics, providers and manufacturers.  Our aim is to build understanding for the role and impact of med tech innovation.  So, third, social networking for med tech innovation is no different from building understanding and support for a hospital system.  Building communities by providing information and stimulating understanding through dialogues is vital for us all.  Fourth, big institutions should encourage social networking so that people can arrange to car pool, maybe get shift coverage, and all the other things that folks do on their phones, in the hallways and at lunch.  Social networking is becoming a fundamental strategy of ours and I think it's going to be an integral part of effective communications programs in the future.  

–Martyn Howgill 

Martyn Howgill is executive director of InHealth – the Institute for Health Technology Studies in Washington DC – a research foundation that examines the social and economic role of medical technology innovation, and that captures and delivers evidence through a web portal.  InHealth is currently seeking a Director of Knowledge Management to oversee expansion of its med tech innovation community – or "social network."