How to Make Friends and Innovate: Using Social Networks to Transform Innovation in Health Care
Tags: physician social networks, patient social networks, Social BusinessAt this year’s forthcoming HBA Leadership Conference being held in Washington, DC, we will explore how social business tools are being used to drive innovation throughout the healthcare industry. From medical education and clinical trial development to clinical research and disease management, our panel will share specific examples and key learnings needed to accelerate the adoption and use of the right social strategy and tools.
Read more » « CollapsePhysicians Increase Use of Social Tools
Tags: social media, Facebook, physician social networks, physicians, researchTwo recent surveys explore how physician’s use social media for personal and professional use. What was interesting from the data is how actively physicians are now using social tools for professional purposes, particularly their affinity for closed, private communities.
Read more » « CollapseBIO International: Social Networks in Life Science
Tags: ozmosis, BioPharma, life sciences, physician social networks, patient communities, Deloitte, sermoOn the heels of releasing its latest findings on the use of social networks in the life sciences industry, Deloitte Research has invited Ozmosis to join its BIO International 2011 presentation and panel discussion on "Improving Innovation Through Use of Social Networks" Thursday, June 29th in Washington, DC.
Read more » « CollapseWhy Facebook Struggles With Healthcare
Tags: healthcare, Facebook, physician, enterprise collaborationOver the past year Facebook’s popularity has continued to skyrocket. The world’s largest social network is now home to 700 million+ users and 2.5 million company pages (updated June 23, 2011). So it should come as little surprise that millions of Americans are turning to Facebook to search for and discuss health related information. However, while social collaboration can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, it can also lead to unintended consequences.
How Social Networking Has Changed Business
Tags: ozmosis, clinical insights, healthcare, Facebook, physician social networks, IBM The Harvard Business Review recently featured a post from Bill George, a Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, where he states, “Social networking is the most significant business development of 2010, topping the resurgence of the U.S. automobile industry.” As Bill points out, social networking took a transcendent leap forward in 2010 as it morphed from a "personal communications tool for young people into a new vehicle that business leaders are using to transform communications with their employees and customers".Read more » « Collapse
Social Networks for Life Sciences
Tags: physician social networks
Today, Deloitte Research released a new study on the use of social networks in the life sciences industry entitled, "To Friend or Not?"
Deloitte notes, "the industry thinks of social networks as marketing, similar to direct-to-consumer advertising; only more targeted. In reality, social networks are promising as tools that let the company collect information from, communicate to, and collaborate with people outside company walls."
Read more » « CollapseThe New Engagement Channel: Physician Networks
Tags: Pharma, Bayer Schering Pharma, physician social networks, physicians, engagementLen Starnes, the Head of Digital Marketing & Sales, General Medicine at Bayer Schering Pharma, has long been regarded as a thought leader and trailblazer among Pharma executives when it comes to effectively leveraging social media. He recently shared a fantastic article on the impact physician networks are having across the world and how Pharma is moving to actively engage providers through each network.
Read more » « CollapseUsing Social Media Platforms to Amplify Public Health Messaging
Tags: social media, Facebook, Twitter, physician social networks, Public Health Initiatives, ogilvy, georgetown, white paperOgilvy Washington and the Center for Social Impact Communication at Georgetown University have released a terrific white paper, “Using Social Media Platforms to Amplify Public Health Messaging” that explores how social marketers rely on networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as channels to raise awareness of public health-related issues, facilitate behavior change, and ultimately help people live healthier, safer lives.
Read more » « CollapseAMA Issues Social Media Guidelines
Tags: ozmosis, social media, AMA, guidelines, physicianThe American Medical Association (AMA) adopted social media guidelines earlier this week at its semi-annual policy making meeting. This is a positive step forward by the AMA and demonstrates the importance of social media to its members.
Read more » « CollapseHands On Social Media Workshops and Simulations
Tags: social media, healthcare, KOL, Pharma, workshop, life sciences, physician
I am delighted to announce the launch of a new hands-on, social media workshop series offered by Ozmosis Business Solutions. These workshops are available initially for BioPharma companies, with customized sessions for both payor organizations and health systems to follow later this summer. As we look back at the impact social media has made on healthcare, the opportunities for healthcare organizations to engage healthcare providers continues to expand.
Social Media's Impact on Healthcare - HCNM Keynote 
(You can view or download the presentation)
Social Media and Its Impact on the Healthcare Industry
Tags: social media, HCNM, Pharma, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, medicine, health systems, FDA, CDC, physician
Today, 650 hospitals have an active presence on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and numerous healthcare organizations have turned the corner to engage in conversations online. As we look back on the impact social media has had on the healthcare industry over the past year, we see dramatic growth in social media adoption by health care consumers, providers, and organizations.
For example, health systems such as Henry Ford have begun to broadcast surgeries and answer clinical questions live via Twitter, new communities like WiserTogether have made it easier for patients to share novel practices around specific conditions such as pregnancy, and services such as iGuard have changed the way we think about drug safety. The FDA’s public hearings in November also gave hope that the cloud of regulatory uncertainty would soon be lifted and the Dose of Digital Wiki now lists hundreds of active pharmaceutical social media programs.
While the industry has taken a giant leap forward into the brave new social media world, we've only scratched the surface of what is yet to come. So what does the future hold? Join me June 14th in Chicago, as Shahid Shah (CEO of HITSphere) and I explore the past and future at the 2nd Annual Healthcare New Media Marketing Conference. Our talk kicks off a terrific event, and I am honored to join the distinguished group of speakers Q1 Productions has assembled.
FDA Framework for Regulating Social Media Promotion
Tags: social media, BioPharma, Pharma, FDA, physician social networks
On March 16th, Ozmosis submitted its comment to the FDA's docket on the promotion of regulated medical products using the internet and social media, joining over 150 other submissions by drug manufacturers, health systems, consultants, agencies, advocacy groups, and private individuals. 
The level of interest in this subject should surprise no one.
The world of medicine has changed dramatically since the FDA's last hearings on internet use. In 1999, less than 50% of physicians used the internet for professional purposes. Today, Google reports that virtually all physicians (92%) use the internet to gather medical information in a clinical setting, and according to Manhattan Research, 89% of U.S. physicians now describe the web as "essential to their professional practice." With the groundswell for social media resources among physicians continuing to rise, Manhattan Research also shares that 71% of U.S. physicians are interested in or already use physician social networks for peer-to-peer interactions.
However, many pharmaceutical manufacturers hesitate to engage with physicians through social media due to the uncertain regulatory landscape. While there have been notable exceptions, as highlighted in our FDA comment, this missed opportunity is a detriment to patients, providers and manufacturers alike. We strongly encourage the FDA to provide clear guidance to avoid further delay.
So what would appropriate guidance for manufacturer participation look like? At Ozmosis, we have established a set of principles that, if applied to the broader web and social media landscape, would be to the benefit of manufacturers, physicians, and patients alike.
On Ozmosis, physicians use their real identities and share their professional affiliations, resulting in a more trusted and transparent exchange of clinical information. Since physicians always know with whom they are communicating and sharing knowledge, the insights and discussions that take place on Ozmosis are highly valued and insight rich. Any regulatory framework put forth must ensure the same level of trust, transparency and accountability our physicians already benefit from every day.
Read more » « CollapseA Call To Action: FDA, Social Media and Physician Engagement
Tags: social media, Pharma, FDA, physicians, GI Circle
Joel Selzer (LinkedIn profile), my Co-Founder at Ozmosis, has spent the past few weeks following the buildup to the FDA's Public Hearing on Social Media. After digesting last week's testimony and the conversations around it (visit www.fdasm.com for the latest courtesy of Fabio Gratton), Joel offers the following:
During my recent presentations at Digital Pharma and AdvaMed's Social Media Seminar, I argued that social media offers pharmaceutical and medical device brands a unique opportunity to engage with physicians. According to Mark Bard from Manhattan Research, 70% of physicians want pharmaceutical firms to engage them online and 60% of physicians either use or are interested in using physician social networks (just ask the docs on Ozmosis or Sermo). With thousands of physicians actively using social media every day to access and share medical information (see Rohit Bhargava's post on "How Doctors Are Using Social Media", one would expect pharmaceutical and medical device firms to salivate at the engagement possibilities.
Yet, both industries have been reluctant to engage doctors using social media under current FDA guidelines. Their reluctance has been disappointing to many but should not be surprising. Michele Sharp of Eli Lilly said it best at the FDA hearing:
To date, Lilly has avoided significant interaction with healthcare professionals and patients about our products in social media forums – largely because of a lack of clarity in understanding FDA’s expectations as to how we could participate and comply with FDA requirements.
This theme was reiterated throughout the hearings, and its absolutely critical that the FDA evaluate the impact of not providing guidance. Michele Sharp also nailed it when she called on the FDA to lead a series of public workshops that could, "collectively generate ideas, leverage the knowledge, expertise and experiences of the participants and work toward viable solutions, so that FDA can provide the detail and clarity to the pharmaceutical industry and others through Guidance or executive channels."
Lilly's recommendation is spot on, but in addition to immediately scheduling a series of public workshops…the FDA should appoint a Social Media Advisory Panel (a recommendation echoed by Zen Chu of Accelerated Medical Ventures). While holding the public hearings was a great step forward, the FDA needs to augment its social media expertise and it needs to do so quickly. Its clear from last week's testimony that the FDA has a lot of homework piling up and the best way we can accelerate their education is to demonstrate two very important points about social media use to the FDA.
1. Physicians and industry are already working together
2. Practical solutions exist to address the FDA's concerns
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Social Media Trends to Watch for in 2009
Tags: social media, physicians, providers, consumers
In 2008 medicine evolved. There was an explosion of social media applications enabling physicians and consumers to share healthcare related information. With 60 million U.S. adults now Health 2.0 consumers according to Manhattan Research, I want to look ahead to the coming year and share, from a physician's perspective, the trends I will be watching for in 2009.
Provider Trends in 2009
Physicians will continue to pour into online communities and physician social networks throughout 2009, but priorities are changing, and we will demand more from the social media services we use - we will see:
The Evolution of Physician Collaboration.
We will embrace resources that offer trusted information and look for more in a site than news feeds or discussions boards. And we will build and use professional networks to help filter the overflow of information and prioritize our learning activities.
Recognition of rapid communication tools as a resource, not a distraction.
Health Systems and provider groups will start to understand the massive potential of instant communication, whether mobile or via microblogging as an information and collaboration resource, and begin to 'unblock' these services for their providers.
Early steps in improving Provider/Industry interaction.
In order to re-establish trust in their interactions with Physicians, Industry will begin to lean towards a more open and balanced exchange of information. Over time, new models will level the playing field with improved transparency between both parties.
Mobile, Mobile, Mobile. Physicians have always been interested in mobile apps for referencing medication doses and practice management resources but with wireless broadband access, faster processors, and slick new devices like the 3G iPhone, more useful and productive apps are bound to appear. Look for mobile apps that go beyond simple reference and calculators to interactive learning, CME, and instant or "store and forward" consultations.
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Ozmosis Unleashes the Power of a Physicians Network
Tags: crowdsourcing, physician networking
On Ozmosis, physicians learn from each other every day. As the only Trusted Physician Network, we enable our members to share clinical and practice management insights (see my blog on migraine therapies). In observing these interactions and reviewing feedback from the community, two key themes continue to emerge.
On Ozmosis, as in medicine, "Trust" and "Access To Your Professional Network" are essential to learning. We have developed the next generation of Ozmosis to drive the exchange of medical knowledge by maximizing the power of a trusted physician network.
Ozmosis now leverages the power of each member's trusted network to deliver more personalized and relevant information to every physician. The new feature set and user interface on Ozmosis drive "Network Powered Knowledge", which means physicians can quickly access personalized content from the sources they trust the most.
By expanding their professional networks, our physician members benefit from the insights shared by colleagues. Upon logging in, personalized information is immediately presented to each physician.
Physicians see questions submitted by members of their network,
number of responses, and relative level of trust from the community
