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Social Media Healing Redux

Oct 09, 2014

SOCIAL MEDIA HEALING-redux

As I’m about to blog on Social Media Healing, it’s ironic that my recent medical thriller, SECRET THOUGHTS, deals with abuses of digital medicine. But an amazing transformation has overtaken modern medicine, a social media revolution so profound it affects everyone’s physical and spiritual wellbeing. The first revolution is the “Media” part. Online health zines, podcasts, forums, interactive medical databases, music, movies, Youtube, Facebook, twitter, instagram, and like media are being utilized by medical providers and patients to spread interest, information, and treatment options. Doctor and patient communication via email and text messages is increasing exponentially. The Internet, once a repository of medical misinformation, is now the go-to place for answers to health questions.

As a physician, social media has become a place for sharing information between specialties, following medical research, and discovering new treatments. There are few procedures for which I cannot pull up multiple instructional videos on my ipad from reputable institutions for rapid learning or review. RSS feeds and email alerts bring the latest breakthroughs or warnings almost instantly. If I’m seeking a second opinion or coordinating care with another specialist, I’ll often do it by text or email.

But the most astounding advance in social media healing has been the “social” part in areas like virtual support groups, public health drives, disaster relief efforts, and spiritual enhancement.

Check out the recent music video from TODAY’s Hoda Kotb featuring Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareilles, adapting their songs 'True Colors' and 'Brave' to inspire and raise money to fight pediatric cancer. Also watch as Paula Abdul highlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month for the Avon Foundation and for her sister Wendy, a breast cancer survivor. They are prime examples of the power of social media healing.

Enjoy!

H.S. Clark, MD