Online health information combined with social media channels like Twitter and Facebook has created a new generation of patients. They are empowered. They have a voice in their own care that they never had before. And more are using social media and physician review sites to choose their doctor or medical practice.

Given these stakes, you can't afford to leave your online reputation to chance. This book offers doctors a step-by-step guide on how to use social media to manage an online reputation. It also provides insider tips on how to respond to online ratings and a guide to work with all of the major physician review sites.

Do not let others define you on the web. Take control of your online reputation now! Unlike guides written by professional marketing gurus, this book offers dozens of stories and case studies from the perspective of practicing physicians and engaged patients.

BENEFITS:

• Unlike guides written by professional marketing gurus, this book offers insights from an in-the-trenches practicing physician's perspective.  
• The advice on managing an online reputation is scattered on the web, requiring time and effort to find. This book combines advice and anecdotes from dozens of other physicians, social media leaders and patients, all in a single, handy resource.
• Doctors and office managers know they need to "get involved with social media" but don't know how or where to start. This book allows them to immediately tap into authoritative insight - in a calming way - not in an alarmist manner.
• Chapter 5 includes profiles of 12 physician rating sites such as Healthgrades, Yelp, Vitals and Angie's List and how physicians can proactively create content and harness the power of social media to help their online reputation and to better patient care.
• The entry format allows the reader to pick and choose from the sections most important to their practice.

Bottom line: If doctors don't take steps to define themselves, patients will.

1. Disrupting the Healthcare Landscape

Social media is not a passing fad

Consumers do more online than just look for health information

E-patients: A New Breed

It's still About the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Why Social Media Should Be Important to YOU

How Significant are Online Doctor Reviews?

Can You Afford to Ignore the Ratings and Social Media?

Reviews are More Positive than You Think

Can the Online Ratings be Compared with Clinical Outcomes?

Large-Scale Initiatives Using Patient Ratings

Working Towards a Healthcare Partnership

2. Your Online Reputation Today

How Patients Find Doctors Today

Why Your Online Identity is Important

Getting to Know You

Not Everyone is Convinced that Doctors Need a Strong Online Presence

Your Career Also Depends on Your Online Reputation

First, Do No Harm; Second, Get an Online Profile

What Search Engines Should You Use?

3. Defining Your Online Identity Through Social Media

Social Media Can Be a Powerful Tool

Curate, Connect and Make a Difference

The News Media Doesn't Paint a Positive Picture

Establishing a Social Media Strategy to Create Your Own Content

Lurking as a First Step

Three Physician Social Media Success Stories

4. Creating Your Digital Footprint

Introduction - Branding Strategies

LinkedIn - Your Professional Network

Facebook - Connect and Share

YouTube - Broadcast Your Practice

Twitter - What's Happening Now

Blogs - Connecting Ideas and People

Google - Mapping the Future

5. Major Rating Sites

Angie's List

Doctor.com

DrScore.com

Google+ Local

Healthcare Reviews

Healthgrades

Insider Pages

Kudzu

Rate MDs

Vitals

Yelp

Zoc Doc

6. Safeguarding Your Reputation

Making Social Media Work for You: Search Engine Optimization

Patient Satisfaction is Now a Vital Metric

Set Up Alerts

The Scope of Online reviews

Focus on the Positive

Invite Your Patients to Write Reviews

Use Reviews to Improve Your Practice

How to Respond to Negative Reviews

Don't Stuff the Ballot Box

Lawsuits Are Not the Answer

Gag Orders Don't Work Either

Outsourcing Reputation Management

7. Professionalism in the Digital Age

Updating the Rules of Professionalism

Guide, Inform, and Teach

Protect yourself with a Social Media Policy and Disclaimer

A Higher Standard than HIPAA

Professionalism Applies to Physician-Only Sites Too

Communicating with Patients

Don't Let Your Personal Social Media Life Distract You

Special Considerations for Young Practitioners, Residents and Students

Navigate the Online Waters Mindfully

8. Connect and Be Heard: My Journey from Social to Mainstream Media

It All Starts With You

The Time Was Changing

Crash Course In Health Policy

The Traditional Mainstream Media Is Calling

Opening The Social Doors

The Humanization of Medical Professionals

Changing Public Perception One Blog, Tweet, and Status Update at a Time

From Social to Mainstream Media

Be Ready For An Opportunity

Join The Conversation

No Training Required

Learn From Others In Our Field

Make a Difference in Healthcare

Appendix. Resources for More Information