Be mindful of HIPAA. Don’t mention information which can identify patients. Don’t write anything where a patient could identify themselves.

Share information. If you find a good article, share it! You can re-tweet (RT) blogs or relevant information. Respond and acknowledge mentions—you earned them.

Think easy and simple. Try not to use medical jargon. Patients don’t always understand. Don’t use a big complicated word when a shorter and simpler one will do. If you need to clarify a complex procedure, link to your blog or health care website.

Know your patient base. Determine who your followers will be, before you start your blog or website. Aim your posts or articles to align to what they would like to hear. Your Twitter account may rank high in search engine results, so you want to ensure your messages are appropriate and relevant.

Be engaging. Work with your doctors, nurses, and researchers to get more evidence-based positive health messages out. Follow, RT posts, and engage them in conversations by replying to their posts.

See on www.healthcarecommunication.com