Recently, at Houston’s Memorial Hermann hospital Dr. Kim Dong performed routine brain surgery with the one exception being the whole surgery was tweeted live. Dr. Kim’s nurses and various hospital staff updated the hospital's Twitter feed with snippets of information about Dr. Kim’s surgical progress as well as graphic photos and videos of the surgery. While Dr. Kim was in the operating room, a team collected information and published it on across multiple social media platforms, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
Social media is becoming more integrated into our lives, on and off the operating table. Despite the fact that this surgery is not the first socially mediated one, it sure isn’t the last either. The first operation documented via social media was a live-tweeted from Memorial Hermann open heart surgery in February.
For optimists of social media infused surgery this will provide detailed up-to-the-minute updates about surgeries from start to finish. This will ensure that surgical mishaps become avoidable and those committing faults are accountable.
Social Media-Monitored Medicine
The Live Twittercast Brain Surgery Gives an Inside Look
Trend Themes
1. Live-tweeted Surgery - Live-tweeted surgeries are becoming more common and provide opportunities for increased transparency and accountability in the medical field.
2. Social Media Integration in Healthcare - Social media integration in healthcare can provide opportunities for real-time updates and communication with patients and families.
3. Internet of Medical Things (iomt) - The IoMT can provide opportunities for remote monitoring and analysis of patient data, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - Social media integration and the IoMT in healthcare provide opportunities for innovation in patient care and communication.
2. Technology - The development of social media and IoMT technology can provide new opportunities for data collection and analysis in various industries, including healthcare.
3. Media and Communications - Live-tweeted surgeries and social media integration in healthcare provide opportunities for media and communications professionals to develop new content and strategies for engagement.