Health Care Informatics

Consider the potential implications for advanced practice nurses through exploring and examining the relationship between social media tools, platforms, and applications, advances in data analysis techniques for user-generated data, as well as users’ access and health literacy.

Discussion Scenario:

You have recently been assigned as the inaugural Advanced Nursing Practice and Care Quality Lead at the Office of Patient Engagement at your local healthcare organization, which is located in a rural area. Upon assuming your role, you have been tasked with generating an organizational strategy and any corresponding policies to establish your organization’s social media and online presence, as well as to promote your organization’s nursing practice standards, care quality, patient/ family engagement, and to address potential patient inquires and complaints. At the moment, the only relevant policy that has been made available to you is the “Corporate Policy on Electronic Mail Communication,” which was last revised five years ago. The executive meeting is scheduled to take place in 6 weeks at which you are asked to present your strategy and any relevant policies to the board and all senior executive leaders. As you settle into your desk on your first day, where would you start?

Answer the following questions as you prepare the organization strategy:

  1. What is the current state of your organization’s social media presence?
  2. What are your intended populations? What additional factors should you consider regarding the population of interest?
  3. Given the project’s time frame, what are your priorities? What are some immediate actions?
  4. What resources or support will you need?
  5. Which stakeholders may be beneficial in assisting you with the development, implementation, and evaluation of the strategy and relevant policies?

Full Answer Section

       
  1. Intended Populations
  • Primary Audience: Patients, families, and the general public in the rural community.
  • Secondary Audience: Healthcare professionals, community leaders, and local businesses.
Additional Factors:
  • Demographics: Consider the age, gender, education level, and socioeconomic status of the target population.
  • Language: Ensure that content is accessible in the primary language(s) spoken by the community.
  • Digital Literacy: Assess the digital literacy of the target population to tailor content and messaging accordingly.
  1. Immediate Priorities
  • Create a Social Media Presence: Establish profiles on relevant platforms and develop a consistent brand voice.
  • Develop a Content Calendar: Plan a schedule of posts that includes informative, engaging, and shareable content.
  • Engage with the Community: Respond to comments, messages, and questions promptly and respectfully.
  • Monitor Analytics: Track key metrics such as engagement, reach, and website traffic to measure the effectiveness of social media efforts.
  1. Resources and Support
  • Internal Resources: Leverage existing staff with social media expertise or consider hiring a dedicated social media manager.
  • External Resources: Explore partnerships with local organizations or agencies that can provide support or resources.
  • Budget: Allocate a budget for social media tools, advertising, and content creation.
  1. Stakeholder Involvement
  • Executive Leadership: Seek support and buy-in from executive leadership to ensure the success of the social media strategy.
  • Marketing and Communications Team: Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to integrate social media efforts with other organizational initiatives.
  • Clinical Staff: Involve clinical staff in content creation and engagement to provide valuable insights and expertise.
  • Community Partners: Partner with local organizations and community leaders to promote the organization's social media presence and reach a wider audience.
By addressing these key areas, the organization can develop a comprehensive social media strategy that effectively engages with the community, promotes nursing practice standards, and addresses patient inquiries and complaints.  

Sample Answer

     

Developing a Social Media Strategy for a Rural Healthcare Organization

1. Current State of Social Media Presence

  • Audit Existing Platforms: Assess the organization's current social media presence across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
  • Evaluate Content: Analyze the quality, frequency, and engagement of existing content.
  • Identify Gaps: Determine areas where the organization can improve its social media presence, such as content quality, audience engagement, or platform selection.