Hospitals Marketing via Twitter and YouTube
May 26, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Marketing
If you any type of surgery planned at a hospital, don’t be surprised if the hospital asked for your permission to broadcast your surgery over the internet. With more competition in the medical field, some hospitals are starting to utilize Web 2.0 type marketing tactics. In fact, hospitals are on Twitter tweeting during surgeries, posting videos of their surgeries on YouTube and connecting with others on Facebook.
One such hospital is Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. The hospital, which was founded by automobile legend Henry Ford in 1915, is using the latest in marketing technology. On Twitter, you can visit @HenryFordNews and find a wealth of information including links to live tweeting during surgeries. Henry Ford Hospital also has a YouTube channel with videos of the surgeries that were being tweeted about.
Here is one such video:
What do you think of hospitals using Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to market their services? Does it cross an ethical line or is it simply a sign of the times? Comment here and let us know.
Twitter During Surgery - Do You Agree? (Image: YouTube Screen Shot)
I would be FURIOUS about having my surgery put on Twitter. I don’t like the idea that my doctor is thinking about any social media tool when he should be concentrating on taking care of me. Really, people have gone wayyyy too far with the Twitter thing…
I am not concerned with this being a distraction. I am also not sure if the surgeon is actually stopping in the middle of the procedure to post his/her 140 characters. From my past experience in health care it is more than likely an surgical assistant or nurse that is actively tweeting.
I think this is a good way to educate cutting edge procedures to medical students and others that might be considering the surgery. As the article mentions, patients would sign a waiver. So, if the patient did not want to have it filmed, online or tweeted the medical staff would have to adher to their wishes.
Nothing like using Social Media for product demonstrations! Not sure it’s for me but great for medical students.