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Posted in #HCSM

Digital inequalities: it’s not just about being online but what you do when you get there

Guest Blogger's avatarInequalities

In this guest post, Claire Preston unpacks the latest evidence on ‘digital inequalities’ – how disadvantaged groups can be further disadvantaged in their access to (and use of) the internet.

This year’s Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) is just out and reports a “striking rise” in the use of the internet by low-income households and disabled people. The numbers of older people accessing the internet are also up; encouraging news for those who seek to lessen the digital divide. AgeUK’s  recent Itea and biscuits week is a case in point.

People using the internetBut there is plenty of evidence to support a continued need for such efforts: internet access remains far from uniform across the UK’s population. People in the highest income category are still nearly twice as likely as those in the lowest to use the internet (OxIS 2013)and the cost of the internet is the reason most commonly given…

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Posted in #HCSM

Pharmacists Influencing Healthcare Using Social Media

See on Scoop.itHealth Care Social Media Monitor

Social media is part of our culture. From sharing pictures, updates, and professional networking, to engaging customers and organizing political movements, there is no question about the power of social media. Interestingly, social media is still in its infancy and experts believe that the true potential and value of social media has not been tapped. Social media empowers everyone to share their ideas, amplify their voice, and shape the world. Healthcare professionals are using social media to share healthcare knowledge, advance patient care, and influence their professions. We profile 3 pharmacists actively using social media to build their businesses and advance the pharmacy profession. They are actively participating in the social economy.

See on www.rxeconsult.com

Posted in Conference

5 tips to make the most of your next conference

conference

I experienced conference envy this past week as I followed the terrific tweets filling my timeline from both Med.20 in London and Standford’s MedX. It would have been wonderful to have been there in person, but I still managed to learn lots of new things and connect with some great new people from my virtual attendance.

Next time you attend a conference here are 5 things you can do to make the most of your time.

1. Take Notes.

It’s fun to tweet, but don’t neglect the old-fashioned art of writing down key points you wish to remember.  Research shows that the act of writing helps you assimilate and remember information better.

2. Interview Speakers

If you have an established blog, website or other social media platform, reach out to speakers before the event and ask if they will allow you to interview them during the event.   Do your preparation in advance and keep the interview short. (An iphone app like Vine (6 second video platform) is useful for this). Here’s an excellent example of an interview with Dr Larry Chu of Stanford Medicine X at the Doctors 2.0 & You Conference.

3. Test out new products

Be one of the first to report back on a new product or service you discover at the conference in the form of photographs, reviews or an interview with the company exhibitors.

4. Curate and blog conference content

Using a tool like Storify, curate the best conference tweets and images.  If you have a blog, share your impressions, tips and summarize key points after the event.

5. Make and build on connections

Don’t just make connections on the day, follow-up with those people you’ve met and want to stay in touch with via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Some of the best connections I have made at conferences have turned into mutually collaborative relationships after the event.

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How I choose which conferences to attend

Posted in #HCSM

Can Twitter Cure Cancer? The Real Story of Social Media’s Impact on Cancer Patients

See on Scoop.itHealth Care Social Media Monitor

A recent study by Brigham Young University found that more than 60 percent of Internet users in 2013 use social media to find health information. But my experience as a cancer patient and advocate tells me anecdotally that this percentage is even higher within the nationwide cancer community. I know very few cancer patients – even seniors – who haven’t used social media at one time or another.

See on therenodispatch.blogspot.ie