Some 85 percent of doctors responding to an online poll at physician networking site Sermo say that interaction with colleagues on Sermo and other social media has led to better patient care and in some cases saved lives.

"The number of times that I have seen physicians turn to physicians on Sermo for help for themselves or their family members is nothing short of staggering," Sermo founder and CEO Dr. Daniel Palestrant writes on his blog. "Of late, I have noticed a steady increase in 'Saved-with-Sermo' cases, where the Sermo community provided the decisive input on a clinical situation, leading to an improved outcome," he adds.

About 600 U.S. hospitals now are using some form of social media, such as blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube, marketing professional Jenn Riggle writes on our Hospital Impact blog. Getting involved should be more than putting up a Facebook page or posting videos online, however.

"But before you jump on the social media bandwagon, it's wise to take a step back to assess whether your organization is ready. Keep in mind: The call to action for social media typically is to drive people to your website for more information. That's why, now more than ever, a hospital's first interaction with patients is through its website. And as you know, first impressions can make or break a relationship," Riggle cautions.

"So before you dip your toes into social media, make sure your hospital's website is ready to make a winning first impression," she adds.

For more:
- read Palestrant's blog post, with a link to survey results
- see this Sermo press release
- take a look at Riggle's Hospital Impact post

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