99MGMT Blog

Did you know that over 90% of consumers use social media to help make health-related decisions? 

In today's digital age, social media in healthcare has become a powerful tool for professionals to connect with patients, share valuable information, and build trust. However, navigating the social media landscape in the healthcare industry requires a strategic approach to ensure compliance with regulations and to maintain professionalism.

As a healthcare professional, navigating social media in healthcare can feel daunting. These 12 healthcare social media tips can help you create a strong online presence, educate patients, and enhance their care.

Operating a private practice can put strain on the practicing physician, as they need to balance patient care with administrative tasks and staff management. Physician practice management companies, also known as Management Services Organizations (MSOs), offer non-clinical business administrative services to private practices, alleviating some of these pressures.

Maintaining a thriving medical practice hinges on attracting and retaining a steady flow of patients. In an era where healthcare consumers have many choices, practices that fail to prioritize patient acquisition and retention risk falling behind their competitors. 

The Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly referred to as the Stark Law, is a federal law passed in 1989 that prohibits healthcare providers from referring Medicare and Medicaid patients for “designated health services” to entities with which the provider has a financial relationship. This includes physician practice management companies, such as those that employ new physicians and offer administrative outsourcing. 

Social media has become an integrated part of today's world, and it is no surprise that it plays an increasingly important role in our lives. As healthcare professionals, you know the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, including social media-related ones. 

In today’s digital era, we rely heavily on social media platforms for both professional and personal use.

However, online social spaces provide plenty of opportunities for private information to become public – including patient medical records and data (HIPAA information).  Social media HIPAA violations have become common and are problematic for a variety of reasons.

HIPAA compliance represents a cornerstone of privacy and security in the healthcare sector, safeguarding patient information, ensuring data security, and building a strong foundation of trust between patients and healthcare providers. For healthcare organizations and their business associates, adhering to HIPAA's regulations is not just about fulfilling legal requirements; it's about embracing an ethical responsibility to protect sensitive personal health information (PHI).

HIPAA compliance is a necessity for both the medical practice and the patient. A HIPAA compliance checklist is vital to making sure the various components of compliance are considered and handled efficiently. Key components in the process of meeting HIPAA regulations include making sure compliance is facility-wide and involves the proper paperwork and privacy for all patient documentation. Also, electronic protected health information (EPHI) must be protected from potential hacking, with regular risk analysis done to ensure the security protocols continue to be sufficient.

Medical care is necessary to prevent diseases and improve quality of life. With many doctors offering a wide range of treatments, additional staffing is required to ensure smooth and timely interactions and services for every patient.  In many cases, the role of a Medical Assistant extends beyond checking vitals and updating medical histories. 

A significant portion of patient outreach and engagement happens online. The digital age has ushered in a new era where the majority of patients turn to the Internet to find and evaluate healthcare providers before scheduling an appointment.