Following a recent blog regarding websites for the private surgeon, I was asked my view of social media eg Twitter or Facebook. Whilst I’m solid in my view a private surgeon should have a website, social media may not be the right place for a private surgeon to be unless EXTREME care is exercised.
Recipe for Disaster
Any social media utilised by a private surgeon which also allows a patient to post comments thereon might well be a recipe for disaster.
Consider the untold damage if the patient posted on-line the care by the Surgeon was first class but the standard in the hospital was awful.
Guilt by Association
Guilt by association. Even worse if the patient posts online that the care administered by the surgeon was poor!
One consultant recently expressed the view that the only difference in 2015 to when he started many, many years ago is that now patients no longer merely gripe to friends and family. They can also go online.
An excellent point indeed.
His view is to always perform the best job he can. Just as he should do. That will stop patient complaints. But sooner or later somebody will complain.
MHM is often asked the question which clients have the healthiest private practice. For sure, those that have a website tend to fall into this category. Interestingly though, not one of those clients engages in social media.
So the conclusion may well be not only could social media be a dangerous place to be but, thus far, it has not proved to generate additional patients either.
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Email your comments to: pete@medicalhealthcaremanagement.co.uk