Social Media and Clinical Practice

Abstract

Social-media use has not only become central in our daily lives but is also now a vital part of the practice of medicine. This trend reflects both the growing public consumption of all things digital including linkage to the Internet along with the slow demise of analog, physical, and stand-alone consumption products such as compact discs and the newspaper. The power to share and discover information anytime and anywhere whether at home, on the plane, or while shopping has led to innovative and new uses that the connectivity of the Internet brings to the health-care profession. Understanding social-media use in medicine, including both its benefits and risks, is key to improving access, education, and service delivery while minimizing the risk of boundary violations and privacy breaches.