Social Media Savvy Doctors

Doctor-patient relationships no longer stop at exam room walls. Medical communication is being transformed. Doctors are tweeting. Patients are posting to medical practices’ Facebook walls. Medicine has entered the world of social media.

Dr. Jeff Livingston at MacArthur OB-GYN in Irving, Texas, uses Facebook and Twitter to share the latest health news with his patients. When Livingston comes across an interesting health-related article, he shares it on the social sites. Post topics range from breastfeeding and weight loss to medication updates. The reason: Informed patients engage in higher-level discussions during exams, he says. And that means time is well spent. Read more »