In 2012 Social Media and Health IT Are Set to Converge

According to recent studies and multiple predictions by medical and technology experts, 2012 may be the year that social media and healthcare IT finally integrate.

Social networking figures prominently in the lists of healthcare IT predictions formulated by a variety of sources.

• Tech Crunch
• Information Week
• Science Roll
• Read Write Web
• Practice Fusion

 

The global push for EHR adoption combined with the explosion of cloud computing and healthcare related mobile and tablet apps appears to be opening the door for social networking to enter the healthcare space.   While this convergence may present many exciting opportunities  organizations will face unique challenges regarding balancing patient care, privacy (HIPAA) and the demands of their stakeholders.

Dr. Bart Collins, Drury social media certificate faculty member and healthcare IT researcher, discusses some of the hurdles providers may face when considering the adoption of social media as a channel for data exchange.

LinkedIn Fast Facts

LinkedIn, also known as the network for professionals is a very powerful network that is quickly growing in popularity with 120-million world wide users. This network is by far the most different from Twitter and Facebook, attracting a much older, and typically more educated user base. Many users find it difficult to learn the network at first, due to it’s professional atmosphere and intimidating user base. Although, after spending a little time learning how to navigate the site and see results of the groups it quickly becomes a favorite among many professionals including business owners and managers. It is also allows excellent reach to the decision makers of companies because of this professional setup. Below is additional information on the typical LinkedIn user.

Average Age: 43 (as of end 2010)

Average Annual Income: $109k (as of June 2011)

Smartphone Fast Facts

Though 43% of US iPhone owners earn more than $100K per year, the strongest growth in users is coming from those with annual incomes between $25K and $75K, particularly since the launch of the iPhone 3G, according to new iPhone demographic and usage-behavior data from comScore.

The research report, “All about iPhone,” finds that overall iPhone penetration grew 21% since June 2008. In the same period, iPhone adoption rose 48% among those earning between $25K and $50K per year, and 46% among those earning between $25K and $75K. These growth rates are three times those of mobile consumers earning more than $100K.

While the number of consumers in the $25K-to-$50K income demographic declined marginally from June to August 2008, their ranks among smartphone owners and mobile content users grew, in most cases faster than the rate of the overall market.

The number of people earning between $25K and $50K accessing news and information via their mobile browser grew by five percent since June, while the market overall grew by three percent, comScore said. comScore also reported seven percent growth in mobile email usage and five percent growth in mobile music consumption among those earning between $25K and $50K.

These data show that lower-income mobile subscribers are turning to their mobile devices to access the internet, email and their music collections and that the iPhone is satisfying demand for a single communication and entertainment device, even as consumers cut back on electronics and gadget purchases in the struggling economy, comScore said.

“As an additional household budget item, a $200 device plus at least $70 per month for phone service seems a bit extravagant for those with lower disposable income,” said Jen Wu, senior analyst, comScore, the report’s author. “However, one actually realizes cost savings when the device is used in lieu of multiple digital devices and services, transforming the iPhone from a luxury item to a practical communication and entertainment tool.”

Online Giving Fast Facts

Online giving is particularly cost-effective for charities. While it can cost $1.25 to raise a dollar from a new donor through direct mail and more than 63 cents through telemarketing, the cost per dollar of raising money online can be as little as 5 cents. (Sources: Fund-Raising Cost Effectiveness, by James Greenfield; Cost-Effectiveness of Nonprofit Telemarketing Campaigns, by Keating, Parsons and Roberts; and Network for Good.)

Online giving is important because of who is giving online: younger, more generous donors. Network for Good's study found that online givers are young (averaging 38 to 39 years old) and generous, giving several times more than offline donors on average. Network for Good's average gift size over the past five years has been $155.

If you're a nonprofit:

Get online now. It's cost-effective and efficient, and it allows you to reach a whole new generation of donors.

Ask for recurring gifts. Online givers are impulsive and give most often at times of crisis and at year-end, with little activity in between. They also may not like solicitation -- 20 percent of Network for Good's donors ask to be anonymous. That means it's important to ask for steady support and not just a one-time gift. Consider offering recurring giving as an option in the online donation checkout process and emphasize to donors its value to you.

Keep it simple. Online givers are in a hurry. They want to help quickly, so text-heavy appeals are not advisable. Leave the details to thank-you notes, when nonprofits can expound on the impact of donor gifts.

Use the long tail. Find people likely to support you where they are already congregating and seeking information online. Be sure your charity is listed in giving portals, accessible via search engines, and visible to passionate communities on social networking sites, blogs, etc.

Online Video Fast Facts

• Watching a minute of video is the equivalent of reading 1.8 million words according to Dr. James McQuivey of Forrester Research
• By 30 seconds into an online video up to 33% of viewers have moved on; at 1 minute 44% have left (regardless of the clip’s length) and almost 60% have abandoned by the 2 minute mark.
• Roughly 66% of the world’s mobile data traffic will be video by 2014.
• According to Internet Retailer, an April 2010 report stated that consumers who watch product videos are 85% more likely to buy products compared to those who do not watch.
• Internet Retailer released a study that found shoppers were 144% more likely to add a product to their cart after viewing a product video on StacksandStacks.com compared to shoppers who avoided video.
• In an August 2010 report from comScore, online retail shoppers who watch video spend about two minutes more on that site and are 64% more likely to buy compared to others.

Social Media & Cult Branding - Free Whitepaper

Feel free to download and share the following Whitepaper I authored regarding social media as an evolving  component of cult branding.

Innovation & Community:  Social Media in Cult Branding

Stress Test