With more patients using the Internet to seek health information and providers, taking control of your "online brand," is more important than ever, according to physician and social media expert Russell Faust.

In this video, Faust explains two simple steps you can take to be sure that the information about you online is both accurate and portrays your true expertise to patients and your peers.

To view this video go to: http://bcove.me/ggj3l7eb

Looking for an online outlet to share your expertise on medical issues, connect with peers, and even weigh in on the latest news and information? Then LinkedIn is an ideal platform for you, according to physician and social media expert Russell Faust.

In this video interview conducted over Skype, Faust discusses the professional benefits of using LinkedIn to do everything from connect with physicians in the same specialty nationwide to hunt for new employment opportunities in healthcare.

To view this video go to: http://bcove.me/jntn5sie

In this video blog, physician and social media expert Russell Faust, shares his thoughts on one of the many platforms his peers can use to reach patients: Facebook. Faust discusses the ease of use in setting up a fan page for your practice but warns that ease-of-use doesn’t come without risk.

To view this video go to: http://bcove.me/h9hsuisc

Hi, my name is Russ. I’m a doc, specifically, a pediatric ENT surgeon, a “booger doctor”. I want to talk to the physicians out there. I hope to inspire you to better connect with your patients, and with your colleagues, using social networks.

I know, I know … Facebook, texting, and Twitter are just for teenagers, right? After all, we are all familiar with the inane texting that teens engage in: “hey, I just burped” (or worse).

But don’t be too swift to dismiss social media.

...What I mostly want to talk about, though, is how becoming involved – right now – in the digital world, can help your patients. How it can benefit your current practice. In order to be “authentic” and persuasive, let’s use my own practice as a case study.

Eighteen months ago I began blogging...

To read the full article go to:  http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/doctor-to-doctor-connect-with-your-patients-through-social-media

In this guest post, Russell offers great insight into how to make sure that your email marketing doesn’t annoy your blog subscribers or get you into trouble. Of course, we are not attorneys and this is not legal advice…you know the drill.

To read the full article go to: http://pushingsocial.com/5-tips-to-avoid-the-spam-folder-and-the-courtroom

Written for HL7 Standards/Health (Engaging Conversations on Healthcare Technology) by Dean Berg.

Whether you embrace it or not, leveraging social media in healthcare is here to stay. This article is not to debate the benefit of social media (website, blog, eNewsletter, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) in healthcare, but rather to discuss the importance of IT involvement.

IT should be involved on several fronts, but one in particular is in the area of “measuring” the benefits, or Return on Investment (ROI) of social media in healthcare.

Why is it important to measure?

As with most business initiatives, someone in the corner office is asking (or will ask) the question about ROI. “What is the return from all of this time and money that we’re spending on social media?”

Not only does measuring ROI answer the question for the corner office, but it is essential in the program’s success, which is beneficial to everyone across the organization.

This is where IT comes into play... (continue reading article at:http://www.hl7standards.com/blog/2011/11/08/it%E2%80%99s-role-in-measuring-social-media-roi-for-health-care-organizations/)

Article written for Physicians Practice by Russell Faust.

Once you know your return and investment in social media, determining ROI is a simple equation: 

The tricky part is measuring the different types of return — as noted above. It is extremely challenging to place a value on enhanced patient education, or enhanced advocacy, or enhanced reputation. It is possible to calculate the value that a new patient brings to your practice.

What data supports this? 
While surveys have gathered pieces of data that support our argument for a high ROI, it’s mostly anecdotal. While our surveys are gathering more hard data, early examples suggest extraordinary ROI from digital branding.

Here are just a couple of examples: ... (continue reading article at: http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/content/article/1462168/1973018)

You’ve certainly heard a lot of hype about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, etc.

You’ve been told that you — the doctor — needs to get busy on social networks; to "get with the program;” to “getengaged.” You’re already busy; maybe even overwhelmed.

You’re trying to build your practice, to recruit and retain good staff, to write something for your quarterly newsletter, to write something for that brochure for the hospital, to connect with your referring physicians, to be recognized by your patient community as the expert that you are, etc.

Do you really have time to “play around with Facebook”?

Is It Worth The Effort?...

Continue reading this article at: http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/content/article/1462168/1973013