Hospital staff interested in applying social media in their context have frequently cited Mayo Clinic’s successful example in social media in support of their proposals. “If Mayo Clinic is doing it, we should at least be considering it” or “If Mayo Clinic is doing it, it can’t be that crazy” are typical refrains.

Still, many in hospital leadership may question the benefits of social media, or have concerns about the risks involved. Sometimes the misgivings come from the legal department, or IT, or human resources, or public relations.

Most of these fears are unfounded. Others can be addressed by adopting appropriate guidelines, policies and safeguards to minimize risks.

Through its consulting services, the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media offers hospitals and other health-related organizations the opportunity to learn directly from Mayo Clinic’s experience and to get their questions answered. Services include social media audits, strategic consultation and facilitation of plan development.

To inquire about social media consulting services for your organization, contact the center by email or call 507-284-5005.