Ignoring Social Media Trends May Be Harmful For Hospitals

A new report from Hewlett-Packard Social Media Solutions claims hospitals put both their patients and reputations at risk by ignoring social media.

Risks of Procrastination

For all the positive benefits of social media, mitigating risk is perhaps the most compelling reason for healthcare organizations of all sizes to develop and implement a “social enterprise” strategy now, rather than later. Procrastination or “ignoring” social media brings its own risks, including:

• Risk to patients – Hospitals and other providers can help to reduce the potential for harm from misleading or wrong health information transmitted through social media by providing reliable information and/or educating patients and helping to guide them to reputable sites.
• [...]