http://ozmosis.com/ The Trusted Physician's Network en-us Thu, 17 May 2012 08:43:08 +0000 Thu, 17 May 2012 08:43:08 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/rss Expression Engine joel@ozmosis.com (Joel Selzer) joel@ozmosis.com (Joel Selzer) http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/doctors-encourage-use-of-mobile-health-apps/ The mobile health industry is growing like gangbusters.  More than 80% of physicians use smartphones and medical apps such as ePocrates, EyeChart, and Medscape.  These are just three of the most popular apps.  Did you know there are more than 10,000 medical and healthcare apps available for download in the iTunes Store?  According to the INFOGRAPHIC embedded below, this makes health apps the third-fastest growing app category among iPhone and Android users.  Its no wonder more and more physicians believe the right mobile health apps can help patient care. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:55:54 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/doctors-encourage-use-of-mobile-health-apps/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-intranets-are-on-the-rise/ Recent studies, including an employee satisfaction report from APCO Worldwide and Gagen MacDonald, point to several benefits that arise from social intranets as enterprises deploy new social communication solutions.  Enterprise social networks, when configured and used properly, are becoming the main knowledge repositories and communication hubs in the enterprise. They are replacing corporate intranets as the most comprehensive and reliable places to find information about the company, its processes and procedures, and the people who work there.  Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:42:02 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-intranets-are-on-the-rise/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/new-media-meetup-kindle-fire-raffle-at-himss/ Vegas baby, Vegas.  That’s right, the Ozmosis team is heading to Las Vegas for HIMSS12 and simplifyMD, HealthcareScene.com and Influential Networks to network and mingle with our healthcare social media friends. That’s the #hcsm, #HealthIT and #HITsm crowd for all you Twitter newbies.  Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:23:25 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/new-media-meetup-kindle-fire-raffle-at-himss/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-and-its-continuing-impact-on-healthcare/ Join Ozmosis & Ogilvy Public Relations Wednesday, February 15th for a star studded discussion on the continuing role social media plays in healthcare as part of Social Media Week in Washington, DC.  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 all the various organizations engaged in the healthcare ecosystem. While the industry has taken a giant leap forward into the world of social tools and collaborative models, we’ve only scratched the surface of what is yet to come. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:01:46 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-and-its-continuing-impact-on-healthcare/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-january-2012-newsle/ The January edition of our newsletter is available here: Ozmosis Insights. In this edition, we examine McKinsey's 5th annual survey on the way organizations use social tools & technologies, share our predictions on how four key social business trends (mobile, social, big data and social analytics) will converge in 2012, explore why every healthcare organization needs a social profile following Google's privacy policy change and incorporation of content from Google+ in its search results and ask pharmaceutical manufacturers to stop waiting for comprehensive social media guidance from the FDA. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:46:28 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-january-2012-newsle/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/google-and-why-every-healthcare-organization-needs-a-social-profile/ In case you missed it, Google really is organizing all the word's data.  This is no longer a clever marketing ploy but the stark reality of the digital world in which we live.  In an era where more than 61% of all adults search for health information online, we need to sit up and take notice when Google makes significant changes to its search results and privacy policy.   Given the outcry this week regarding Google's privacy policy and this month's integration of Google+, let's step back and review a few facts. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:42:17 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/google-and-why-every-healthcare-organization-needs-a-social-profile/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/2012-social-business-trends-converge/ For those who have been keeping tabs on the rise of social business in healthcare, McKinsey's 5th annual survey on the way organizations use social tools & technologies finds that they continue to seep into many organizations, transforming business processes and raising performance. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:15:57 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/2012-social-business-trends-converge/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/dont-wait-for-comprehensive-social-media-guidance/ On December 31st, the FDA finally released its long awaited guidance on the use of social media, Responding to Unsolicited Requests for Off-Label Information About Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices." (click to download the actual PDF).  As most of us expected, the FDA did not provide comprehensive guidance. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:45:52 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/dont-wait-for-comprehensive-social-media-guidance/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/how-to-make-friends-and-innovate-using-social-networks-to-transform/ At 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. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:39:13 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/how-to-make-friends-and-innovate-using-social-networks-to-transform/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/healthbox-accepting-final-applications-for-healthcare-accelerator-program/ The U.S. healthcare system desperately needs an "innovation" injection and startup accelerators such as Healthbox and RockHealth aim to do just that. Founded earlier this year by business incubator Sandbox Industries, Healthbox, an accelerator program for healthcare startups, is accepting final applications for its inaugural class in Chicago. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:02:10 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/healthbox-accepting-final-applications-for-healthcare-accelerator-program/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-september-newslette/ The September edition of our newsletter is available here: Ozmosis Insights. In this edition, we examine the rising use of social tools by 65% of physicians, share how 54% of CIOs believe email will be replaced by real-time communication solutions within five years, explore why 57% of enterprises are making investments in deploying social tools within the enterprise in 2011 and look at how leading social business vendors (Salesforce, Jive, IBM, etc) are shaping the future of business interactions. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:48:18 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-september-newslette/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/is-social-business-ready-to-grow-up/ According to Forrester, 57% of enterprises are making some investment in enterprise social in 2011. Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:27:01 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/is-social-business-ready-to-grow-up/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/physicians-increase-use-of-social-tools/ Two 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. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:14:46 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/physicians-increase-use-of-social-tools/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/cios-see-real-time-communication-tools-replacing-email/ According to a recent survey from Robert Half Technologies, More than half (54 percent) of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed recently said real-time workplace communication tools will surpass traditional email in popularity within the next five years.  At Ozmosis, we see this shift already taking place with early adopters spread across the healthcare industry. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:03:09 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/cios-see-real-time-communication-tools-replacing-email/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-june-newsletter/ The June edition of our newsletter is available here: Ozmosis Insights. In this edition, we review the latest news from the Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston, share links to a great collection of social business resources, reveal why Facebook struggles with healthcare and tee up a discussion on how social networks are innovating in life science. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:25:25 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-june-newsletter/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/enterprise-20-descends-on-boston/ Last week, the annual Enterprise 2.0 Conference made its way to Boston. For those unfamiliar with the term, Enterprise 2.0 refers to a new generation of innovative technologies and proceses (primarily "social" and "collaborative" tools) that improve productivity and reduce cost. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:06:55 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/enterprise-20-descends-on-boston/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/bio-international-social-networks-in-life-science/ On 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. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:01:55 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/bio-international-social-networks-in-life-science/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/why-facebook-is-not-for-healthcare/ Over 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. Tue, 10 May 2011 19:46:44 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/why-facebook-is-not-for-healthcare/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-march-newsletter/ The March edition of our newsletter is available here: Ozmosis Insights. In this edition, we share a recap from HIMSS 11 in Orlando, highlight how OzmosisESP can be used as an enterprise collaboration platform for health care organizations, and suggests how the industry should shift the conversation from how hospitals and life science firms can use social media for marketing and brand building to how we can leverage social tools to support and improve the clinical workflow itself. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:17:26 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-march-newsletter/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Social-Innovation-at-HIMSS/ Another HIMSS conference is in the books.  Last week over 31,000 Health IT professionals and nearly 1,000 vendors descended on Orlando to discuss the latest industry trends.  Once you got past all the pageantry and hoopla, there were meaningful discussion, debate, and education around the intersection of technology and healthcare.  In particular, mobile health, health data exchange and the role of accountable care organizations seemed to dominate the conversation.  Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:41:21 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Social-Innovation-at-HIMSS/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-inc-redefines-knowledge-management-in-healthcare/ Enterprise Software from Ozmosis provides the first social powered knowledge management platform for Hospitals and Health Systems Tue, 15 Feb 2011 07:38:00 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-inc-redefines-knowledge-management-in-healthcare/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/how-social-networking-has-changed-business/ 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".  Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:39:12 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/how-social-networking-has-changed-business/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-february-newsletter/ The February edition of our newsletter is available here: Ozmosis Insights. In this edition, we announce the launch of OzmosisESP as an enterprise collaboration platform for health care organizations, look at Deloitte's study on the value of social networking tools for Life Science firms, explore research from the McKinsey Quarterly on how networked enterprises are more likely to be market leaders and discuss the use of social platforms to enhance public health messaging. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:18:34 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-february-newsletter/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/new-media-meetup-at-himss-2011/ Ozmosis is heading to Disney World…or rather the annual HIMSS HealthIT Conference being held in Orlando, FL, from February 20-24.  So whether you're a clinical informatics leader, hospital administrator, health care professional, or a Health IT vendor, we look forward to seeing you at the New Media Meetup we’re co-sponsoring at HIMSS. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:28:51 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/new-media-meetup-at-himss-2011/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Looking-Ahead-to-the-Enterprise-20-Conference/ The Enterprise 2.0 Conference is still more than five months away, but conference organizers are already hard at work crafting a terrific agenda.  With more than 320 papers submitted for presentation, the conference’s main theme of “Open Collaboration” is being put into practice as the E20 Community across the world discusses the virtues of each proposal and casts their vote. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:41:04 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Looking-Ahead-to-the-Enterprise-20-Conference/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-december-newsletter/ Yesterday, we released the December edition of our newsletter, Ozmosis Insights. Each month we share research and analysis on the latest trends taking shape in enterprise collaboration, social media, and health care. In this edition, we announce the launch of OzmosisESP as an enterprise collaboration solution for health care organizations, look at Deloitte's study on the value of social networking tools for Life Science firms, explore research from the McKinsey Quarterly on how networked enterprises are more likely to be market leaders and discuss the use of social platforms to enhance public health messaging. If you'd like to receive future editions of the Ozmosis Insights newsletter, click here to signup. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:54:36 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ozmosis-insights-on-social-collaboration-and-healthcare-december-newsletter/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Social-Networks-for-Life-Sciences/ 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." Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:27:01 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/Social-Networks-for-Life-Sciences/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/enterprises-are-riding-the-social-wave/ For anyone keeping score these days, the market for social business software, especially enterprise collaboration, is heating up. Large software players such as Microsoft, IBM and Salesforce.com all tout the “collaboration capabilities” of their products, from Microsoft's enhanced social features in SharePoint 2010 to the release of Chatter 2.0 by Salesforce. However, the real push is coming from a rapidly growing number of pure-plays like Yammer, Jive Software and Lithium. IDC reports 41% of respondents have already deployed an enterprise social software solution. Which isn't surprising, since Chatter has more than 60,000 customers and Yammer is used by over 90,000 companies and organizations, including over 80% of the Fortune 500. Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:11:10 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/enterprises-are-riding-the-social-wave/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/when-it-comes-to-social-media-is-everyone-a-potential-partner/ Last month, the Ogilvy Social Marketing exCHANGE and Georgetown University held a fantastic event on the role social media can play in improving public health.  During the course of our panel discussion, we were asked to describe the value partners can play in social media.  My response was simple, I said 'when it comes to social media, everyone is a potential partner.”  Alex Hughes, the organizer and moderator for the event took this message to heart and posted a very thoughtful review which I have shared below. Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:22:56 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/when-it-comes-to-social-media-is-everyone-a-potential-partner/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/the-new-engagement-channel-physician-networks/ Len 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. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:31:58 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/the-new-engagement-channel-physician-networks/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/using-social-media-platforms-to-amplify-public-health-messaging/ Ogilvy 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. Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:35:27 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/using-social-media-platforms-to-amplify-public-health-messaging/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/ama-issues-social-media-guidelines/ The 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. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:20:14 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/ama-issues-social-media-guidelines/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/examining-public-health-driven-social-media/ With Election Day less than a week away, conversations about public health and health care in general are buzzing on- and off-line. So as a social marketer I’m wondering, 'How are people talking about public health issues online in 2010? Where will they go to find information about health care in 2011?” These are just some of the questions I’ll touch on during a Social Marketing exCHANGE on Tuesday, November 16 at Ogilvy Washington Mon, 01 Nov 2010 02:14:16 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/examining-public-health-driven-social-media/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ama-dc-healthcare-sig/ Join us for a discussion entitled "Social Media's Impact on Healthcare" at the AMA-DC SIG on Thursday, October 21st at Georgetown University. See details below. Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:09:55 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/ama-dc-healthcare-sig/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/privacy-in-a-social-media-world/ Do networking sites like Facebook and Twitter present privacy problems for physicians or are they a way to build community around your practice? Maybe both. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:00:43 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/privacy-in-a-social-media-world/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/hands-on-social-media-workshops-and-simulations/ 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) Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:31:28 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/hands-on-social-media-workshops-and-simulations/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-and-its-impact-on-the-healthcare-industry/ 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.   Tue, 25 May 2010 15:37:41 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-and-its-impact-on-the-healthcare-industry/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/announcing-the-launch-of-ozmosis-business-solutions/ It's an exciting day for all of us at Ozmosis as we officially launch a new business unit. Ozmosis Business Solutions - an outgrowth of our core business - is focused exclusively on serving the social media needs of our clients throughout the healthcare industry.   When we started Ozmosis three years ago, Facebook had fewer than 20 million active users and Twitter was relatively unknown until the SXSW conference that March. Today, they have close to 600 million active users between them and their users spend an astonishing 500 billion minutes on Facebook per month and share more than 50 million tweets a day.   Healthcare organizations have been actively utilizing social media. More than 650 hospitals have an active presence on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Scanning the Dose of Digital Wiki shows how forward thinking major pharmaceutical firms are with their own social media programs. However, most of their efforts to date have been patient centric. Whether organizations are trying to educate their respective audiences or provide better customer service, they can also engage the more than 60% of physicians who consume user-generated content created by and for healthcare professionals. Mon, 10 May 2010 15:39:39 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/announcing-the-launch-of-ozmosis-business-solutions/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/whos-talking-to-doctors-about-your-product/ Does this scenario sound familiar? Your sales force got cut last year so you have less reps trying to see more and more HCPs. But a lot of these potential customers cut their staff last year or took on more patients or simply don’t want to spend the time with a drug detailer. So you may only see them once or twice a year (if you’re lucky). Of course, the HCP has a legal and moral obligation to keep himself current with all the latest treatment options. If he’s not hearing about your product from you, where is he (or she) hearing about it? Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:54:32 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/whos-talking-to-doctors-about-your-product/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/the-limits-of-manufacturer-accountability-in-social-media/ In its call for public comments on the promotion of regulated medical products using the internet and social media, the FDA sparked renewed interest in the role the agency's guidelines might play in pharma's embrace or avoidance of social media.  While many manufacturers have moved forward with innovative programs (See the Pharma and Healthcare Social Media Wiki) there are still organizations unsure or simply unwilling to engage online in an uncertain regulatory environment. It's easy for some to accept that fear and hesitancy are warranted when billion dollar blockbuster drug franchises and patient safety are at stake.  Yet, those of us who believe the power of the social web can improve both the bottom line and the public good will continue to push pharma to engage more openly and effectively online.  As an example, Digital Pharma Europe is being hosted by Bayer Schering Pharma in Berlin this week.  While I cannot attend in person, I will follow along via twitter (use #digpharm) and am encouraged by the fact that Bayer, among others, is taking social media seriously in Europe.   Joining with Bayer in their respective comments to the FDA, manufacturers demonstrated they can come together to provide a near unanimous opinion on issues relating to the use of social media (See our summary of PhRMA comments here). When it comes to defining what they should be held accountable for online, PhRMA, Abbot Labs, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Sepracor seek to limit accountability to content that is company owned and controlled.  Novartis proposes that companies “should only be held accountable for those online communications which they directly own or control", while Pfizer distinguishes between company-controlled web properties and company-controlled content, saying that “statements by unregulated persons on manufacturer-hosted (or -supported) online forums are not statements by the manufacturers themselves.” If the FDA adopted these recommendations today, would manufacturers more fully embrace social media?  One would hope so, but in the absence of formal guidance, manufacturers still hesitate to engage openly with patients and providers alike.  Behind closed walls on manufacturer sponsored or controlled private sites for patients and providers, some allow real conversations to take place.  However, on the public sites they control, such as branded and unbranded Facebook pages, most manufacturers restrict commenting and often disable posting all together.  If patients and providers can't engage the brand or company in an open conversation online because the manufacturer fears being held accountable for their statements, how much value does a presence on Facebook really provide?  Clearly, we need to encourage more open, engaging and credible conversations in these settings.  Without such an approach, we will continue to see manufacturers stumble in their social media efforts, as recent events illustrate. Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:40:24 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/the-limits-of-manufacturer-accountability-in-social-media/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/big-pharma-still-looking-for-the-social-cure/ Should drug makers be required to disclose up-front all the potential harmful side effects of new medications within a single, 140-character Tweet? And what about guidance on how to set up a Facebook fan page of some new HIV drug? Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:54:09 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/big-pharma-still-looking-for-the-social-cure/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/fda-framework-for-regulating-social-media-promotion/ 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. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:41:25 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/fda-framework-for-regulating-social-media-promotion/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/improving-physician-and-pharma-life-science-company-interactions/ The 9th Annual ePharma Summit was recently held in Philadelphia the week of February 8th, otherwise known as “Snowpocalypse”. Those of us who braved the blizzard were rewarded with a terrific set of discussions on the role digital and social media can play to improve the working relationship between physicians and pharma. In our last post, Practicing Medicine in a Mobile Powered World, Jason shared a vision of how a physician’s workflow might look in the not too distant future. As Jason described, this is a world where the pharmaceutical information and services physician’s require are available when the physician needs them, inserted into the clinician’s workflow in a manner that improves rather than hinders their ability to diagnose and treat patients effectively. Today, physicians need the following when it comes to assessing pharmaceutical information at the point of care: 1. Fast, simple, reliable answers to product questions 2. Peer-to-Peer interaction and trusted feedback 3. Access to rep like services provided on their terms Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:43:51 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/improving-physician-and-pharma-life-science-company-interactions/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/epharma-summit-2010-creating-value-in-non-personal-promotion/ From the ePharma Summit Blog: ePharma Summit 2010: Creating Value in Non-Personal Promotion Sanjay Pingle, President, Physicians Interactive Jason Bhan, MD, Family Physician, Co-Founder, Ozmosis, Inc. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:56:34 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/epharma-summit-2010-creating-value-in-non-personal-promotion/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/practicing-medicine-in-a-mobile-powered-world/ Apple changed the world when they launched the iPod.  When the iPhone came out, a new standard for smart phones was set, healthcare apps appeared, and the devices were quickly adopted by physicians (here is a great list of apps for physicians and medical students).  So, given Apple's track record,could the Apple iPad help revolutionize healthcare?  It may be wishful thinking, but I believe mobile technology has and will continue to change the way medicine is practiced.  64% of U.S. physicians own smartphones and this number is expected to increase to 81% by 2012, according to Manhattan Research.  There are some significant advantages to today's mobile platforms, and for many physicians, our mobile device has become essential to our practice.  Consider a typical patient encounter… A 66 year old patient of mine comes to the office with symptoms of depression.  She has a complicated medical history with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol (believe it or not, there is nothing rare about this type of patient, they make up 10-20% of a typical panel and a much larger portion of the medicare population.)  Here she is, with a relatively straightforward problem (depression), confounded by multiple medical issues and the host of medications that come with them.  In addition to the seven (7) medications she is currently taking, I need to add an antidepressant to treat the mood. Yet, with all of these medications I am concerned about drug-drug interactions and wonder if there is an optimal drug to use.  Today, I use Epocrates on my iPhone to see that there are a few I want to avoid.  In less than 2 minutes I figure out the best option with the least potential interactions – 10 years ago I had to check multiple sources for the same information – a process that took me 10-20 minutes.  With the time I save, I can move on to help another patient. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:44:32 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/practicing-medicine-in-a-mobile-powered-world/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/brave-new-world-of-social-media/ Social networking is transforming the way medical students communicate with one another, but is online content meeting professional standards? The New Physician January-February 2010 by Paul Wynn Volume 59, Number 1 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:06:08 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/newsroom/brave-new-world-of-social-media/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/a-call-to-action-fda-social-media-and-physician-engagement/ 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 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:15:15 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/a-call-to-action-fda-social-media-and-physician-engagement/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/exploring-the-controversy-around-healthcare-reform/ The controversy around Healthcare reform continues to grow, especially with the recent House passage of HR 3962.  This 1900 page bill (summarized nicely in this 61 page downloadable pdf file), begins to address a number of the problems and inefficiencies in our healthcare system but there is much still left to figure out.  In tandum with the funds appropriated for accelerating Health IT adoption under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last year, we may actually be moving towards transforming healthcare.   To further explore what healthcare reform really means for all of us, the Mayo Clinic, AARP, Pfizer and others, are sponsoring "The Minnesota Healthcare Roundtable" on November 20th.  The assembled panelists will tackle topics such as Medicare, private health plans, business ethics, codes of conduct, and transparency.  With representation on the panel from some of the leading healthcare institutions in Minnesota, expect some great discussions. Physicians on Ozmosis have been holding their own conversations about the recent healthcare bill, insurance reform, and the impact of both on physician practices.  As the social media sponsor, Ozmosis members will have the opportunity to participate virtually in the Healthcare Roundtable.  Questions posed on Ozmosis will be answered, in real-time, by the panelists in Minnesota.  Some of the questions already being asked on Ozmosis are around Healthcare IT and connectivity, overcoming physician shortages, and issues around meaningful use.   We look forward to an exciting event, and you can follow the discussion on November 20th live via Twitter, just look for the #MNMDreform hashtag.   Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:17:04 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/exploring-the-controversy-around-healthcare-reform/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/health-20-2009-san-francisco-day-2-a-summary/ Three CEO's and a President offered interesting perspectives on where they felt Health 2.0 was heading.  Alexandra Drane, President of Eliza, made a fascinating point about how most of the data out there is not very useful until it is cleaned with some high touch effort.  Eliza actually contacts patients to confirm and clean up data - she mentioned that 20% of the people who were reported to have diabetes, didn't have diabetes - all you have to do is ask! Jane Sarasohn Kahn moderated a great conversation between Wayne Gattinella of WebMD, Sameer Samat of Google Health, and David Cerino of Microsoft.  I was blown away with how clean the new MS HealthVault interface looks (using Silverlight) - it was like looking at a Mac!  Google showcased a new telehealth solution, MDLiveCare, that is now integrated with their system and uses video chat to deliver medical and psychiatric services to patients.  Wayne focused heavily on their new WebMD mobile apps that he feels (and I agree) are where tools need to be delivered.   Sanjay Koyani from the FDA showed a demo of their Twitter feeds and widgets - similar to what he shared in the Driving the Adoption of Health IT Through Innovations in Social Media.  Jamie Haywood from PatientsLikeMe discussed their recent study that was based on data gleaned from their site about lithium and Multiple Sclerosis. Adam Bosworth did a demo of Keas today.  The site has come a long way since last year.  Care plans now help consumers improve their health by helping them keep on track with their specific disease state.  Adam described it as a "Facebook for health" which gives you steps to better health.  There is a slick integration with Quest Labs that turns the raw data into very nice visualizations that are easy to interpret.  Keas allows for some personalized and relevant data to be delivered to the patient based on their condition.  It is definitely shaping up and I look forward to seeing how it develops over the coming months.  Well done Keas, keep it simple and stay out of the red. Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:21:26 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/health-20-2009-san-francisco-day-2-a-summary/ http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-meets-healthcare-health-20-2010/ Social media meets healthcare next week at the Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco.  Health2.0 is one of the more innovative and exciting conferences that I have been to, and I look forward to it each fall.  This year the event is being kicked off by Aneesh Chopra, CTO of the United States and former Secretary of Technology Virginia. Given the upcoming Influenza season and concerns around H1N1, I have been asked to demo the Ozmosis Real-Time Health Alerts solution at the Health 2.0 in the Doctors Office session on Tuesday, October 6th at noon.  Joining me on stage to demo their solutions as well will be David Best, MD, showing The Doctor’s Channel, Ryan Howard, with Practice Fusion, Chaim Indig, showing Phreesia, and Mark Walinske, with Boundary Medical.  Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:26:05 +0000 http://ozmosis.com/about-us/blog/social-media-meets-healthcare-health-20-2010/