Social Networking 101 for Physicians

Remember That Your Patients Are Not Your Friends

A physician who gets too close to his patients puts himself at risk. That’s why Cambridge internist Phoebe Cushman refuses to accept Facebook “friend” requests from current or former patients. “I just hit ‘ignore.’ …  I think it’s very important to have boundaries in the physician-patient relationship,” says Cushman, who also maintains the strictest privacy settings on her account.

That’s a good approach, says Harlow, suggesting that doctors set up a separate page representing their practice and enabling patients to become “fans.” “This is a way of connecting and allowing folks to follow your updates without blurring that personal/professional line,” he says.

Next: Monitor Your Web Presence Regularly