Articles
Social networks and radiology
By Alliance Medical
25 November 2011
The rise of radiology social networks
There was a time when radiology professionals would meet once a year in an exhibition centre or at a hotel conference, and share anecdotes and expertise over a cheap glass of white wine and a deep fried canapé or two. Nowadays, they are more likely to be tweeting, commenting on images on a forum, and conferring virtually with colleagues in Iran, the US or Italy on a host of new radiography websites.
You may have heard of Aunt Minnie. It’s the world’s largest comprehensive community site for radiologists, radiographers and related professionals in the medical imaging industry. The US site has over 144,000 members, and the European cousin Aunt Minnie Europe, 19,000, 35 per cent of whom are radiologists. US-based Radiopolis is a newcomer, but with a lively and engaged membership.
These sites are not just about news and jobs - although they do these well. They are online communities of professionals collaborating on topics, commenting on images, transacting and researching, as well as sharing the highs and lows of their day. For example, Radiopolis has several levels of communication for professional collaboration, from open chat rooms to private forums where only invited experts can meet and interact. The site’s case gallery allows members to upload cases either for educational purposes or to seek advice from others.
Dealing with large files was a cumbersome and time-consuming business, but now internet technology has also reached the stage where large images are easily and quickly uploaded to platforms like social media sites, and commenting functionality the norm. And smartphones, used by so many for social networking, have such good screen resolution that they can be used for looking at medical images.
Radiopolis CEO and radiologist Roland Talanow believes that radiology is the medical field most revolutionised by digitalisation:
“The transfer of information (and consultation) is very suited for social media and the internet. The entire industry has been changed by this fact.”
Dr Emma Stanton, co-founder of professional network Diagnosis and a practicing psychiatrist, believes social media sites like Doctors.net.uk, doccom.me and the BMJ’s doc2doc.bmj.com are important for networking and professional development.
“We host Diagnosis on LinkedIn, the professional network, so that junior doctors can become aware of the broader virtual professional world out there. Diagnosis offers a cost effective approach to healthcare leadership development. It is a space for the exchange of ideas, mentoring and holds monthly networking events attended by 70-80 professionals from different specialty groups.”
Emma can also see the appeal of social media for radiology professionals: "I can understand the rise of radiology groups. Essentially they are stuck in a dark cupboard. They can be pretty isolated as a profession, which forces the rise of the virtual world.” But radiology professionals are not being accused of being anti-social. Says Emma: “Interestingly, research has shown that those most active in social media online are also the most socially active offline.”
Professionals are also becoming aware of the need to have a social media presence. “Social media for healthcare professionals is at something of a critical stage”, says Tim Lloyd, who works for the Department of Health and runs weekly Twitter forums for people interested in healthcare comms, social media and the NHS. “Where health professionals seem to recognise some benefit is in online communities such as MedCrowd.com, or The Network With No Name on LinkedIn (for junior doctors).
“There are also niche weekly Twitter chats such as #twitjc and #nurchat for nurses. The NHS and DH offer formal spaces like NHS Networks, but I'm not sure how well used these are by comparison to informal (Twitter), or independent (MedCrowd) spaces.
“As professionals' knowledge and confidence with social media grows, I'm guessing we'll see more and more informal niche networks springing up. Some will survive, some won't, but I think it’s all to be encouraged.”
But some have reservations about the rise of online health professionals communing openly in public forums. Tim says: “Health professionals in the UK are worried about how to manage online profiles, in terms of keeping private and professional lives separate and maintaining patient confidentiality. What happens if a patient contacts you on Facebook or Twitter?”
These fears support the popularly of professional-only sites like Doctors.net.UK, with 190,000 professionals registered. Of these 3,700 are in radiology.
The British Medical Association recently issued some guidance for medical professionals about using social networks. They warn that social media can blur the boundary between an individual’s public and professional lives.
Samantha Jewell is the professional officer for educational and study at The Society and College of Radiography, which has had to advise a number of members who have had their careers damaged by inappropriate use of social media. She said: “I’m shocked by some people’s naivety – people post photos of themselves on holiday when they have told their employer they were ill, and others who use social media to rant about colleagues. The consequences can be very high indeed. We tell our members that on social media sites, they have to be professional and to remember that it is highly likely that employers and prospective employers will look at these sites.”
As social networks for radiology and health professionals become more popular, so will the career casualties. Samantha Jewell offers a few words of caution: “Those photos of you on holiday pouring shots down your throat have their place in your private albums. Keep them off social networks.”
The rise of radiology social networks
There was a time when radiology professionals would meet once a year in an exhibition centre or at a hotel conference, and share anecdotes and expertise over a cheap glass of white wine and a deep fried canapé or two. Nowadays, they are more likely to be tweeting, commenting on images on a forum, and conferring virtually with colleagues in Iran, the US or Italy on a host of new radiography websites.
You may have heard of Aunt Minnie. It’s the world’s largest comprehensive community site for radiologists, radiographers and related professionals in the medical imaging industry. The US site has over 144,000 members, and the European cousin Aunt Minnie Europe, 19,000, 35 per cent of whom are radiologists. US-based Radiopolis is a newcomer, but with a lively and engaged membership.
These sites are not just about news and jobs - although they do these well. They are online communities of professionals collaborating on topics, commenting on images, transacting and researching, as well as sharing the highs and lows of their day. For example, Radiopolis has several levels of communication for professional collaboration, from open chat rooms to private forums where only invited experts can meet and interact. The site’s case gallery allows members to upload cases either for educational purposes or to seek advice from others.
Dealing with large files was a cumbersome and time-consuming business, but now internet technology has also reached the stage where large images are easily and quickly uploaded to platforms like social media sites, and commenting functionality the norm. And smartphones, used by so many for social networking, have such good screen resolution that they can be used for looking at medical images.
Radiopolis CEO and radiologist Roland Talanow believes that radiology is the medical field most revolutionised by digitalisation:
“The transfer of information (and consultation) is very suited for social media and the internet. The entire industry has been changed by this fact.”
Dr Emma Stanton, co-founder of professional network Diagnosis and a practicing psychiatrist, believes social media sites like Doctors.net.uk, doccom.me and the BMJ’s doc2doc.bmj.com are important for networking and professional development.
“We host Diagnosis on LinkedIn, the professional network, so that junior doctors can become aware of the broader virtual professional world out there. Diagnosis offers a cost effective approach to healthcare leadership development. It is a space for the exchange of ideas, mentoring and holds monthly networking events attended by 70-80 professionals from different specialty groups.”
Emma can also see the appeal of social media for radiology professionals: "I can understand the rise of radiology groups. Essentially they are stuck in a dark cupboard. They can be pretty isolated as a profession, which forces the rise of the virtual world.” But radiology professionals are not being accused of being anti-social. Says Emma: “Interestingly, research has shown that those most active in social media online are also the most socially active offline.”
Professionals are also becoming aware of the need to have a social media presence. “Social media for healthcare professionals is at something of a critical stage”, says Tim Lloyd, who works for the Department of Health and runs weekly Twitter forums for people interested in healthcare comms, social media and the NHS. “Where health professionals seem to recognise some benefit is in online communities such as MedCrowd.com, or The Network With No Name on LinkedIn (for junior doctors).
“There are also niche weekly Twitter chats such as #twitjc and #nurchat for nurses. The NHS and DH offer formal spaces like NHS Networks, but I'm not sure how well used these are by comparison to informal (Twitter), or independent (MedCrowd) spaces.
“As professionals' knowledge and confidence with social media grows, I'm guessing we'll see more and more informal niche networks springing up. Some will survive, some won't, but I think it’s all to be encouraged.”
But some have reservations about the rise of online health professionals communing openly in public forums. Tim says: “Health professionals in the UK are worried about how to manage online profiles, in terms of keeping private and professional lives separate and maintaining patient confidentiality. What happens if a patient contacts you on Facebook or Twitter?”
These fears support the popularly of professional-only sites like Doctors.net.UK, with 190,000 professionals registered. Of these 3,700 are in radiology.
The British Medical Association recently issued some guidance for medical professionals about using social networks. They warn that social media can blur the boundary between an individual’s public and professional lives.
Samantha Jewell is the professional officer for educational and study at The Society and College of Radiography, which has had to advise a number of members who have had their careers damaged by inappropriate use of social media. She said: “I’m shocked by some people’s naivety – people post photos of themselves on holiday when they have told their employer they were ill, and others who use social media to rant about colleagues. The consequences can be very high indeed. We tell our members that on social media sites, they have to be professional and to remember that it is highly likely that employers and prospective employers will look at these sites.”
As social networks for radiology and health professionals become more popular, so will the career casualties. Samantha Jewell offers a few words of caution: “Those photos of you on holiday pouring shots down your throat have their place in your private albums. Keep them off social networks.”
Friday, 25 November 2011
