It shouldn’t be shocking that online social networks haven’t taken hold in the hospital world (are there any?).

But they should.

The possibilities are truly endless.

Cultivate a relationship with new mothers. Encourage patients with similar diagnoses, past and present, to help each other heal. Help chronic patients better manage their diseases. Encourage physicians to interact with each other. Improve your organization by allowing all employees to easily share pictures of grandchildren. Help providers deal with the stresses of caring for others. Facilitate patient education.

The list could go on.

A hospital could build its own.  But it could also very easily encourage the use of existing networks.  The possibility for strategic relationships with all forms of health care related social networks is astounding.  I’m reasonably surprised hospitals haven’t pursued the idea.

This entry is filed under Ideas.