DAVID: Welcome to the MDsearch.com Physician Podcast. I'm David Pearson
here with Robyn Melhuish and today we're talking about online social networking.
ROBYN: It seems like everybody is talking about online social media. Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter... who's using it, how they're using it, the benefits of using
it...
DAVID: I know, the conversation is unavoidable.
ROBYN: Even people who aren't participating in online social networking
usually have something to say on the subject.
DAVID: So what do we have to say about it?
ROBYN: I'm not sure that MDsearch.com has an official position but I think
we're ready to join the conversation.
DAVID: And what better way than with the very first MDsearch podcast?
ROBYN: Exactly.
DAVID: Now, we already know that social media is sweeping the nation
ROBYN: Actually it's sweeping the globe. Facebook has 175 million active
users worldwide and an average of 480 thousand new members are signing up every
day. So we know it's a big deal, but are physicians engaging in the trend?
DAVID: To answer that question, we surveyed our entire physician database,
and you can imagine our surprise when we discovered that 67% of our physicians are
regular Facebook users. In fact, 72% of our survey respondents are members of at
least one social networking site, though compared to the 67% on Facebook, Classmates.com
and MySpace are barely runners up with 12% and 8% of physicians using the sites.
ROBYN: Additionally, almost half of our respondents are members of what
we call professional networking sites, or social networking sites with a professional
focus. Like Facebook, these sites are popular among physicians too. 61% of our respondents
are members of Sermo and 43% are on LinkedIn.
DAVID: But what's the point? As one seemingly irritated respondent pointed
out, "these social networking/twittering sites are much ado about nothing."
ROBYN: Perhaps our indignant respondent is right, but... maybe not. Almost
20% of physicians using professional networking sites are using them to collaborate
with physicians they don't know in the "real world," that is, the world outside
of cyberspace. They are asking questions and giving feedback and sharing opinions
with physicians they didn't have access to before.
DAVID: Now the survey results suggest that for now at least, most physicians
are primarily on Facebook for personal reasons. But clearly, physicians are comfortable
with the concept of online social networking, and it's something they're willing
to make time for.
ROBYN: Now, combine that assumption with the advent of sites like Sermo
and Medscape (from WebMD), and suddenly physicians are no longer limited to looking
up answers in books or making a phone call to a single mentor when faced with a
challenge. Instead of seeking advice from one or two colleagues, a physician can
have a "joint consult" with tens of thousands of other physicians.
DAVID: It's certainly an exciting concept, and we've barely scratched the
surface on the potential of these sites to change the way healthcare is delivered.
But the sites have other benefits as well. Online social networking is truly just
that - an opportunity to "network" with hiring managers, recruiters, and other physicians
who can ultimately help you get the job you want. And the beauty of it is that you
can do it without leaving the comfort cyberspace.
ROBYN: No more stuffy conferences or feeling obligated to go for cocktails
after work causing you to miss dinner with the family. Now you can use sites like
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to make connections and network your way to a new
job.
DAVID: But is it really as simple as signing up for a Twitter account?
There's more to it that that isn't there?
ROBYN: Well, it's not complicated, but you're right - it does requires
a little more explanation, and while most physicians are already comfortable using
Facebook to connect on a personal level, the survey results indicate that they're
not exactly sure how to use the site - and others like it - professionally.
DAVID: But MDsearch.com is here to help.
ROBYN: That's right, we're here to assist with all aspects of your physician
career, so next time, we'll begin your social media tutorial by taking a closer
look at Linked In and how you can use it to enhance your career.
DAVID: Thanks for listening to the MDsearch.com Physician Podcast
DAVID: The music on the podcast is provided by the PodShow Podsafe Music
Network. Check it out at music.podshow.com or you can link to the site at ww.MDsearch.com.
