Thoughts on Twitter/Social Media

Several people have been very generous with their ideas and their time. They have helped me form the following thoughts on the use of Twitter and other social media tools in health care.

• FaceBook and MySpace are places to go to meet people you know. Twitter is where you go to meet people you want to know.
• Social media is about making yourself available. You should have a presense, no matter what you communication strategy is.
• Give people the opportunity to engage with you/ Establish a presence
• Trial and error is a big part of the startegy
• Trust your people. It's not about the web, it's about communicating
• If people want to find you, are you there?
  

UPDATE: 2/4/09
Here comes more:

I read an interesting piece inspired by a cab ride that gave the advice to, "Get users talking to each other and then give them the tools to spread the word." It started me wondering how we might do this on our website. Can we create a safe and welcoming environment where current and past patients will want to come, tell their story and engage?

I immediately interrupt my excitement about the idea with thoughts of how to handle any negativity that might enter the room. But could WE learn more from the negatives than we do from the positives? Are we dedicated enough to turn them around and create new evangelists? How might we do it and could we do it publicly? I need to think about it more, but could be quite an adventure!