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Using Social Media to Engage with Patients

A guest post from GMCClinics

Social media is taking over the world. Corporations, schools, and even hospitals use these platforms to engage with their target audience. Doctors in Dubai have also embraced the culture of social media and use these platforms to stay in touch with their patients.

Social Media Rules in Dubai

Before creating a social media account to engage with your patients, you should be aware that there are specific guidelines that all social media users in Dubai need to follow. Below are some of the regulations you need to follow:

Privacy

As a doctor, you need to respect the privacy of your patients and refrain from posting their information. It is not only disrespectful, it is also illegal. Violation of other people’s privacy can attract a hefty fine or jail time.

Decency

Refrain from posting content that might offend the Islamic culture. Use decent language, photos, and content. Offensive language and indecent photos could land you in jail, or you could get fined up to AED 500,000.

Ask for Permission

Just like you should not post patients’ private details, you need to ask for permission before including your patients in your page’s photo collection. Posting photos without consent could cost you six months in jail.

Using the internet to interact with your social media patients is an excellent way to show them that you care and you are willing to follow up on their progress as well as provide advice outside the hospital.

The following ways show you how you can engage with your patients via social media:

1. Be Easily Accessible

To engage with your patients on social media, ensure that all your accounts are visible on your websites. For instance, if you run a blog, indicate the Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms you use, and provide your username.

Promote your pages by including links on your brochures, in your office, and on the website. Also, make sure the link is accessible and fix it issues quickly as they arise.

2. Lead the Conversation

To start interacting with your patients, engage them in a conversation by asking reasonable questions. These questions should enable the audience to think of how you can help them and enlighten them at the same time.

Use this opportunity to collect feedback regarding new techniques in your practice, such as treatment procedures or the introduction of advanced technology in the hospital. You can ask questions like “how have our new dialysis machines saved you time.” Patients will answer the questions and also provide further information about other services.

3. Promote Participation

One of the reasons for creating a social media page should be to help your followers, and you cannot do this if you are not aware of their wellbeing. Encourage your social media patients to participate in your pages. For instance, if you are a cardiologist, you could create a weekly challenge where you ask your patients to post about their weekly health regime, such as exercise habits.

Encourage them to like or comment if they want more details about a subject and ask them to share on different platforms. Also, share this information on your blog and provide links.

4. Consistency

The only way you will retain and attract more following is if you post regularly. Social media patients follow your sites to keep updated and to get crucial information concerning their health. If you are not active, the audience will follow another page where they can access new information daily or weekly. If you are too busy to post, you can hire a social media person to manage your accounts.

5. Create Trust

When you decide to open an account or website, patients will always have questions for you. Ensure that you respond to all, even if they are simple or obvious, this way the patients will trust you more. Provide credible information – some patients try to test doctors so they can decide which ones to follow. If you don’t have the answers, you can provide suggestions to show the audience your concern on the matter.

Social media enables people to connect from different parts of the world, regardless of time and distance. It is also an excellent way for doctors to engage with their patients and help to solve health issues and provide useful information. Just don’t forget, to engage with patients effectively on social media, your pages need to be easily accessible, and you need to respond to questions and comments.

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