In October 2009 Ed Bennett recorded over 400 hospitals in the US utilising social Networks. Following the sterling work of @EdBennett I was stimulated to determine the percentage of Australian hospitals using Social Networks both to further engage staff members and to provide community based education for the general populous.
We examined 935 Australian Hospitals to confirm that Australia is lagging 12-18 months behind the US in terms of utilising Social Media to facilitate two-way communication; engage the community and relay vital lifestyle and health related information. In this initial survey we found that hospitals were becoming more compliant with Organisational websites and directory listings (providing moderately up to date information about their location and services provided) – but the use of social media and social networks has yet to be embraced.
I expect to see some significant changes over the next 6-12 months (as per the data from the US) but Australia currently boasts a festive 3 hospital blogs, 2 Organisational based Facebook accounts and 1 Twitter account.
Granted, there are a few staff based and private Facebook accounts as well as medical blogs partly affiliated with certain hospitals (documented below), but I would love to see an increase in the community based interactivity and approachability of the Hospital as a whole. The sharing of information and embracing of Social Networking is still in its infancy in Australia, but we will watch it grow
Please leave comments below with links to hospital Social Networks. The permanent link to this table will be hosted at the Australian Hospital Social Network list
About Mike Cadogan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Hospita…
Also, Hornsby Hospital is publicising its underfunding on Facebook
Hornsby hospital: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13871220314
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,2373…
I wonder how many other hospitals follow suit
Adelaide Womens and Children’s Hospital Foundation Twitter account: @WCH_Foundation
Alfred Health, which incorporates The Alfred, Caulfield Hospital and Sandringham Hospital is on the following social media sites:
Twitter: @AlfredHealth
YouTube: AlfredHealthTV
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alfred-Health/111259318915052
Hi,
We have multiple accounts:
@Geelonghospital -- run by our Barwon Health Foundation
@Barwonhealth -- organisation wide, acute hospital, subacute, aged care, community health, rehab
@davidashbridge -- CEO of Barwon Health
Facebook:
Geelong Hospital Appeal -- run by the Barwon Health Foundation
Barwon Health -- main facebook site, organisation wide as per the twitter account
You listing has a facebook page: Geelong Hospital Employees -- this is not an official site
Great work with this listing!
Cheers, Kate Nelson @commsgeelong
Hi,
St Vincents Private Hospital in Melbourne has the following:
Twitter account -- @StVincentsPriv
Facebook page -- http://www.facebook.com/stvincentsprivate
You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyTpSEiq6e0
Standard website is http://www.stvincentsmercy.com.au/
Hi Mike,
Any chance you can update the listing for Geelong Hospital (Barwon Health)
Twitter: @barwonhealth and also the CEO has an account that he tweets from @davidashbridge
accounts have been active since april 2009
Facebook: April 2009 http://www.facebook.com/barwonhealth open to all
also have pages inviting comment/participation -- facebook.com/improvingcare we also have pages for Blokes Day Out, Barwon Health strategic Plan and Barwon Mental Health week
cheers and keep blogging -- I enjoy your posts!
Thanks Kate
Just starting the 2012 make over of the page…have added it to the database tables and it will appear in updates…shortly
Mike