Social media for patient engagement.

Abstract

Who better to serve as "Dr. Google" than an actual doctor? Patients often present with a list of symptoms and turn to their favorite search engine to understand their constellation of symptoms. In this editorial, we attempt to address the following key elements in surgeons' use of social media (#SoMe4Surgery) as a tool for patient engagement: marketing, demystifying and differentiating the surgical specialty, a fast track to the latest specialty-specific guidelines and recommendations, and combatting medical misinformation. The increased social media presence in the medical space can be used to improve health literacy and simplify the navigational process of one's healthcare journey. These platforms can humanize physicians, make them more accessible, and bridge the gap that sometimes exists, preventing patients from moving to their next step in care due to fear. The extent of social media use in healthcare far surpasses this brief discussion, and it is up to the individual user to exercise the appropriate uses and responsibilities regarding patient communication.