Social Media Potpourri: AMA Issues Policy, Bloggers React

The AMA just released its document on "AMA Policy: Professionalism in the Use of Social Media". You can read it here. Although it touches on some key things to consider, it is a little bit basic and addresses obvious concerns, and some initial reactions to it are along the lines of, "no kidding" or, as my nieces and nephews would tell me, "no duh." Below is the intro, but I urge you to read the entire document (it's short).
"The Internet has created the ability for medical students and physicians to communicate and share information quickly and to reach millions of people easily. Participating in social networking and other similar Internet opportunities can support physicians’ personal expression, enable individual physicians to have a professional presence online, foster collegiality and camaraderie within the profession, provide opportunity to widely disseminate public health messages and other health communication. Social networks, blogs, and other forms of communication online also create new challenges to the patient-physician relationship. Physicians should weigh a number of considerations when maintaining a presence online..."
 
Obviously when the AMA weighs in on something, it's going to generate a lot of discussion.
The AMA policy statement prompted this blog post by Dr. Ted Eytan. In it, Dr. Eytan summarizes and discusses (and disagrees) with some aspects the AMA statement, such as the AMA calling for docs to police eachother and the warning about social use could undermine trust. Dr. Eytan prefers a teaching model rather than a policing model. He also points out some good data that shows that more consumers think companies with a social media presence (in this example, microblogging) are more deserving of trust than those that do not have one. So maybe the AMA policy is a bit too knee-jerk-ish and opinion-based, and not based on data.
Bryan Vartabedian, in his 33 Charts blog, comments on the ways he stays professional on social media here. His main takeaways are as follows: 

1. I understand that I have boundaries
   
2. I remember that everyone's watching
   
3. What would mama think
   
4. I model myself after other social docs I respect
   
5. I don't drink and tweet
   
6. I define my professionalism
   
7. I keep a dialog with my employer
   
8. I listen to the response of my dialog

My personal favorites are #3 and #5. Rules to live by.
Dr. Vartabedian also has a related post about "Who Will Police Physicians In Social Media" that poses additional thought-provoking questions. His closing quote is worth thinking about: 
It’s time for standards that go beyond bureaucracy
The AMA policy/guidelines, while basic, represent a big step for physicians who live and think in this space.  We need to go further with more specific guidelines and examples for physicians-in-training and those new to all of this.  I’m guessing that people who understand this stuff should be part of the equation.  But the academic medical-industrial complex is a difficult lobby.

And we need to beware of social media rules made by doctors who have never played the game.
That last line is an important point. I've personally seen examples of misinformation spread by people who don't participate in social media because they saw some article online or read a news item about it, condemning social media practices without ever actually participating in the social media space. It's crucial that the people involved are helping to make the rules.
Although social media use by physicians is a hot topic, it's not for everyone. Not to make this post be the Dr. Vartabedian show, he has posted several useful articles about social media lately. This one is how to identify who social media is not right for: "Six Signs (for Physicians) That Social Media is Not for You." And not only is the post salient, I urge you to scroll down to the bottom and read the comments. The beauty and value of social media is that people can comment and generate additional discussion and insights. Sometimes the comments are the best part! 
Although I think there are weaknesses in the AMA policy (primarily that it's too general and seems more like a warning in some areas than a policy), I applaud them for pushing this out in front of docs and generating discussion about the use of social media by physicians.
What do you think? Are you active in social media? Do you agree or disagree with portions of the AMA policy? 
 
 

About the Author

Stephen Welch

Senior Vice President, Communications
Executive Editor, CHEST

This blog, "It Ain't Rocket Surgery" is intended to help busy health-care professionals find useful online and mobile resources that will enhance their self-education and professional research efforts, or point out important topics of discussion related to online information and content. The blog's title is a Yogi Berra style mash-up of two common phrases, "it ain't brain surgery" and "it ain't rocket science". I hope it will be casual, fun, insightful, and -- most of all -- educational.

You can follow me on Twitter. 

I currently serve ACCP as the Senior Vice President of Communications, as well as the Executive Editor of CHEST, the ACCP’s flagship journal. During my 15 years here, ACCP has focused on growing and developing the editorial, technological, and business aspects of the College. We are constantly striving to make the journal and other ACCP educational content as accessible and useful to clinicians as possible.

When not at work, I like to spend time scuba diving with sharks, collecting original comic book artwork, exploring the digital world, and searching for good BBQ.

Your feedback about the blog is always appreciated. So are tips on good BBQ joints.