Should Doctors Use Social Media?

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Google your name.

…seriously, do it right now. Do you like what you see?

Is it a good idea to have social media as a doctor, or is it best to avoid it altogether?

To answer this question, we first have to look at the benefits of having an online presence in the first place. When a patient, employer, or anyone for that matter, either searches your name online or stumbles upon you, it’s important to make sure you’re able to be found—and that your online presence is carefully curated.

Of course, some of your online persona will be out of your control. Naturally, there will be countless doctor “rating” sites and directories that have some outdated and possibly useless information.

Social media, however, is one thing you can control—you decide what you post (and don’t post). Used to your advantage, this can be a powerful tool in crafting your online persona.

Of course, it’s a double-edged sword. One false move can leave an indelible mark, permanently attaching your name to something you’re not proud of, and would never want patients to see.

A Cautionary Tale

To illustrate the point, let’s look at an example I saw when I was in training. During my residency at Penn, I was in charge of the social media account. I went out of my way to ensure the content was useful, nonthreatening, nonpartisan, HIPAA compliant, and squeaky-clean. After all, it was my responsibility.

One night I typed @pennanesthesia into my search bar, and found a post from a student registered-nurse anesthetist (SRNA) tagged #pennanesthesia. It was a photo of her with two friends, celebrating after a big exam. The caption read, “Six months in…know very little about anesthesia, know very much about getting drunk.”

It was unprofessional, inexcusable, and because of her hashtag, it could be misconstrued as official content from the account I was running—a possible disaster situation. I had to reach out to our residency program director, our department chair, and deans at the SRNA school.

The student made a formal apology and was allowed to continue on through anesthesia school, but mistakes like this are the ones that cost people jobs.

Obviously, the example I cited isn’t the kind of social media exposure you’re looking for. So, how do you avoid making a similar mistake?

Here are my suggestions:

1. Don’t post any questionable content.

Across all platforms, you must ensure that you don’t produce any questionable content. You must avoid anything you wouldn’t want your patients, employers, or grandparents to see.

2. Know thyself.

If there’s any chance you might not be able to always practice good judgment, it’s probably best to stay off social media altogether. Better to be safe than sorry.

3. Watch what you say on another person’s page.

Even comments you make on other pages can get you fired. A quick search for “doctor fired from social media” will produce no shortage of those who made these awful, public mistakes.

4. No racism, illegality, or criticisms of your employer.

It should go without saying, but any racist comments, HIPAA violations, or even criticisms of your employer may have you searching for a new job, one that’ll be hard to come by if you’ve made one of these mistakes.

Of course, it needn’t all be doom and gloom. In many ways, social media can be a great thing for doctors.

Here are six ways it can benefit you:

1. You can use it to widen your impact.

Social media can be a powerful way to create your online presence, advocate for patients, and connect with other leaders in your industry.

2. It’s easier to stay on the cutting edge.

No matter your specialty, you can exploit the wonders of social media to stay informed and up-to-date by following journals and thought leaders in your field.

3. You can get a sense of what other doctors are doing.

Social media is great for polling your colleagues to see how they are practicing medicine. See what others are doing, and maybe use this knowledge to grow as a physician. Used properly, social media can make you a better doctor.

4. It can raise your profile.

Many clinicians have risen to levels of fame and notoriety, simply by crafting a polished, cohesive social media presence.

5. Your patients will be more comfortable under your care.

If a patient searches your name and sees that you’re a respected leader in the field, it will only bolster their confidence in you.

6. It can help during hard times.

No one said being a doctor was easy, and during difficult times, sharing our thoughts, struggles, and successes with other physicians can help us feel less alone or helpless.

When I was struggling with endless clinical demands, I wrote an “Op-Med” piece for Doximity’s social media, and got support and well wishes from physicians all over the country. There were words of camaraderie and encouragement, which helped soften the blow of hospital demands.

The Bottom Line

Know thyself. There’s no requirement to be a player in the social media game, and if you have an itchy trigger finger, you should probably sit on the sidelines. But if you can carefully use this powerful tool to connect with your fellow physicians and put your best foot forward, then get on there and create a landing page for all of your current and future patients to see.

Good luck, and remember, it always pays dividends to pause and think for a minute before you post. 🧠

Looking for more (free!) content to help with life as a physician? Check out these other posts on the blog:

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By Brian Radvansky, MD