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

You Can't Catch A Fish In A Parking Lot - The Dangers of Coal-Tar

“You can’t catch a fish in a parking lot,” is the kind of folksy wisdom you’d hear from my grandfather if he were alive today to witness the way the Springfield City Council sacrificed our local waterways in favor of allowing developers to use toxic coal-tar-sealants on our city’s parking lots and driveways. Granddad would not have approved of how the council wasted a year “investigating” the use of a sealant previously found by the US Geological Survey to be toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Never mind the fact that the sealant contains high levels of known carcinogens that may cause cancer in humans.

The council heard several arguments for coal-tar. It’s cheaper and lasts longer than the other types of parking lot sealants and it keeps other fluids like gas, oil, and anti-freeze from soaking into asphalt. But most importantly, the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield doesn’t like being told what they can’t use to seal parking lots and driveways. They argued that if the council banned coal-tar-sealant it could lead to the banning of other chemicals in the future and that could be bad for business.

The City Council sided with the out-of-town coal-tar industry representative flown in for the meetings and the Home Builders Association. They voted down the proposed coal-tar-sealant ban even though Bass Pro supported it and publically stated that they won’t use coal-tar-sealant on their parking lots. It makes sense to me. After all, how do you sell lures to people if there are no fish to catch?

Instead, the Springfield City Council decided to waste more time and money on a study to ascertain the “possible” negative effects on local marine life attributable to the use of coal-tar-sealants. I’m sure the coal-tar industry will fly in another of their representatives to oversee the “research” even though there is clearly no need for any further investigation.



The USGS has published multiple peer reviewed scientific studies (as recently as December 2010) proving that coal-tar-sealant is toxic to fish. In fact, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for coal-tar includes the following text, “Coal Tar Driveway Sealer will harm waterlife and should be prevented from entering any body of water.” An example of the devastating power of coal-tar-sealant was exhibited last July when the runoff from one newly sealed parking lot killed all marine life over a 1.5 mile stretch of Hodges Creek in Boone North Carolina. The death toll from the single parking lot application included at least 97 fish, mostly trout.

Let’s put this in perspective. The Springfield metropolitan area is spread out over roughly 3,000 square miles with a population of around 440,000. Folks who spend any time at all outdoors know that practically every drop of water that runs off Springfield Metro’s parking lots and driveways ends up in our waterways and eventually, Table Rock Lake. How much more do we need to know? Let’s ban this stuff already. Call your city council representative and tell them enough is enough.

Our local waterways just received an overall C grade from the Ozarks Water Watchers with several waterways falling into the D range. We can't afford to continue with business as usual. We need to make changes now. We owe it to our grandkids and our grandparents to care for our natural heritage much better than we care for our parking lots.

Please sign the petition below requesting that Mayor O'Neal re-visit the coal-tar issue:

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Joe Strummer Merchandise

1. Joe Strummer commemorative Telecaster.....$1,200.00

2. Joe Strummer Nikes.....$90.00

3. Knowing that Joe would think you were stupid for wasting your money......priceless

I'm Quitting Facebook Rap

Social Media ROI video

Don't abandon Traditional Media

I read a great post regarding the need to continue using traditional media rather than investing all marketing efforts in Social Media on Drury University's Social Media Certificate web site.

The author, Dr Jonathan Groves, makes a great point when he suggests that Social Media should be part of a broader marketing strategy that also includes traditional media.

There's a lot to think about with Social Media campaigns (consider the graphic below). However, traditional media sources still boast the largest number of consumers and should not be neglected.

Facebook Infographic (click the graphic below to see larger image)

Facebook Under Fire from MoveOn.org

MoveOn.org is actively targeting Facebook privacy policy and soliciting petition signatures in protest of recent changes.  It will be interesting to learn if one of the more established internet activist groups will be able to influence the world's largest and most popular social networking site to change course.  Stay tuned.

I don't always agree with MoveOn.org's views, but I signed the petition anyway and forwarded it on to my contacts.  I wonder how much MoveOn.org may benefit from taking such a hard line against Facebook?

More traffic to their site undoubtedly equates to increased donations and, here's the really interesting part.....MoveOn is using Facebook to spread their message.

Electric cars to save the automobile industry

General Motors announced last week repayment of the company's government loans well ahead of schedule.  The world's largest automobile manufacturer will now focus on expanding production of their Chevrolet Volt and other electric models.  The Volt is scheduled to be available to dealers in the fall of this year.

Not surprisingly, Nissan and other automobile manufacturers will also be introducing electric cars this fall.  According to industry experts we should see full scale marketing and manufacturing on a global basis by 2012. Including models from Porsche and other luxury brands.

Last year, when I purchased my Honda Civic using the Cash for Clunkers program, there was a great deal of skepticism regarding the program's possible impact on the automobile industry as well as the overall economy.  However, recent studies show that 90% of participants in the Cash for Clunkers program (including myself) would not have bought a new car if not for the rebates offered by the program.  I  am very happy to have increased my fuel economy by 20 mpg via Cash for Clunkers.  Reducing the money I personally spend buying oil from people who want to kill Americans is, in my opinion, an important benefit of the program.

Regardless of your personal assessment of the stimulus effects of the program, by keeping automobile manufacturers afloat during the recession, it appears that Cash for Clunkers succeeded in at least giving them a little time to retool their operations to produce the cars of the future.


I for one, can't wait to take my used Civic down to the Chevy, Nissan, Honda, etc. dealer in 2012 to see what they'll give me on a trade-in for an electric car.  It will be great to no longer have to purchase gasoline.  Whether the electricity I use to charge my new car comes from coal, wind, solar, etc. at least it will be produced here in America.

Interesting Facebook stats comparing 2009 and 2010

Apple's success helps power economic recovery

A recent cover story in Newsweek magazine proudly proclaimed, America's back!  The article referenced the success of companies like Apple as evidence of our economic turnaround.  However, I must admit I was more than a bit skeptical.

This morning on my way into work I listened to a story on NPR about Apple's record increase in net income for the first quarter (their fiscal 2nd quarter) of 2010 which does not include iPad sales.

Apple shares rose $14.68, 6 percent, to $259.27 in morning trading Wednesday. Earlier they hit $259.85, a new all-time high.

I wonder what next quarter's earnings will look like when they count all the iPad revenue?  Maybe we are on our way back after all......

Historic Tweets

MSNBC posted an interesting article on their list of historic tweets.

Send gifts to your Twitter friends

There's a new service available called Twegistry that allows users to send gifts of candy, flowers, Teddy Bears, etc. to their Twitter friends.  The service is in beta and not that impressive at first glance.

But, consider the possibilities.....

What if you were able to view a friend's online registry or wish list including products sourced from Amazon and/or eBay, etc.? How convenient would it be to have the ability to click on an item and have the product shipped directly to your friend using the information from their Twitter account?

No more wandering aimlessly through Bed, Bath, and Beyond with one of those crappy scanners!

Web publication wins Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism was awarded to Sheri Fink of ProPublica.org.

Excerpt from the NPR story on the awards.

ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative-journalism service, won one of two Pulitzers awarded for investigative reporting for a story on the life-and-death decisions made by doctors at a New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina. The story was a collaboration with The New York Times Magazine.