TPMA Social Media Overview
TPMA Communications 2016
Presentation Topics
Importance of Social Media in Healthcare
Getting Started
Social Media Spotlight
Examples of What to Post
The Importance of Social Media in
Healthcare
Gain new patients
Educate existing patients and the general public
Build relationships with patients
Connect with peers and professional organizations
Provide accurate information and establish expertise in your
field
Clarify medical misconceptions
Free marketing for your practice with a wide reach
“41% of patients claimed that
information found on social
media influences their decision
when choosing a healthcare
provider”
“72% of internet users looked
online for health information in
the last year”
Getting Started with Social Media
You must first decide:
Who will be responsible for posting: you, staff members or an outside
company/software
What your overall goal of using social media is
The audience you are trying to reach: current patients, new patients,
colleagues, general public
What kind of content you want to post: text, photos, videos (links, tips,
educational information)
How often you are going to post: daily, weekly, biweekly, on special
occasions
Getting Started: Facebook
1. Go to Facebook.com and
select “Create a Page” below the “Sign Up” area on
the home page
2. Choose “Local Business or
Place” then select the
“Health/Medical/Pharmacy”
Option
3. Fill in the required information
then hit “Get Started”
Getting Started: Twitter
1. Go to twitter.com and click on the
“Sign Up” button
2. Fill in your name, email and password
then hit “Sign Up”
3. Select a username
4. Verify your information
5. Click “Create my account”
Social Media Spotlight: Dr. Robert Parker
(Houston, TX)
Dr. Parker maintains active accounts on Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, and LinkedIn
Shares a variety of content: health tips, industry specific
information, photos and videos
Follow Dr. Parker to see a variety of social media content
examples that you could implement for your practice!
Twitter: @ParkerPodiatry
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkerpodiatry
Examples of What to Post: Twitter
• Trending topics (#TBT #NationalDoctorsDay)
• General health information/ podiatry
related information
• Photos associated with articles
• Treatment options and information offered
• Patient reviews
Examples of What to Post: Facebook
• Detailed about
services/procedures offered
• Educational videos
• General health information
• Events/occasions ex:
Employee Appreciation
Day, trending topics
• Common foot
problems/explanations and
treatment options
Do’s and Don'ts of Social Media
Do’s• Include images and videos when necessary
• Add your social media account links to your practice website
• If a patient asks for advice, recommend scheduling an appointment or direct
patient to APMA “Find a Podiatrist” tool if they are not local
• If a patient voices a complaint on social media, respond with empathy and
contact them directly
• Address common health issues and provide expert health advice to the general
public
Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media
Don’ts
• Don’t include images that are too graphic or clinical
• Don’t merge your personal and professional accounts
• Don’t offer individual or specific medical advice online
• Don’t ignore patient’s or other follower’s comments, set a realistic goal of how
often you will go through and reply to posts
• Be careful not to violate any HIPAA regulations
Connect with TPMA!
TPMA is here to help you on your social media journey! By
connecting with us, you can utilize information we post as content
for your own accounts and have the opportunity to expand your
professional network!
Twitter: @TPMATweets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Podiatric-Medical-
Association-271526506210870/ or search “Texas Podiatric Medical
Association” on Facebook
TPMA Social Media Competitions
April Foot Health Awareness Month Competition:
Follow TPMA and APMA on Twitter and Facebook to participate in
the Foot Health Awareness Month social media campaign!
By interacting with us on Twitter and Facebook throughout the
month, you have a chance to win FREE registration for the
upcoming TPMA Annual Meeting + we will feature you and your
practice on our social media profiles!
Stay tuned to TPMA social media profiles to get involved throughout
the entire month of April!
Helpful Resources
MedLanding How to use Social Media for your Medical Practice EBook:https://medlanding.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Social-media-marketing-ebook.pdf
TPMA Magazine article “Social Media: Taking It One Step at a Time” found on Page 25 http://www.txpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TPMA-Magazine-2016-1st-quarter.pdf
Contact the TPMA Communications Intern: [email protected] for a copy of this presentation, a more detailed Social Media presentation from APMA, or with any further questions!