If you think building trust with your patients only happens during face-to-face interactions, you’re missing out. Today, trying to build trust with your existing and potential patients goes beyond consultations in your clinic—that’s why it is better to leverage social media platforms to your advantage, especially Twitter.
Twitter is a great avenue for healthcare professionals to engage with their patients real time. With its recent updates, Twitter can now feature chats and live Q&A sessions to help you engage with your patients and establish trust.
But how do you think you can do it? Medical Marketing Australia has laid out everything you need to know about Twitter for healthcare professionals.
Benefits of Twitter Chats and Live Q&A for Healthcare
Twitter’s most valuable feature is to provide concise and immediate communication–and for healthcare professionals, using it is a dynamic way to help you connect with your patients.
Here are some benefits of how Twitter chats and live Q&A sessions can benefit your practice:
- Building Trust and Credibility: With Twitter, you will be able to engage directly with patients. This will allow you to demonstrate your expertise, answer questions in real time, and build trust through open communication.
- Enhanced Patient Education: Using Twitter chats will help you address specific health topics, answer patient questions live, and debunk common misconceptions in a public forum.
- Increased Patient Engagement: Because of the interactive nature of Twitter chats and live Q&A sessions, you will be able to encourage active participation and foster a sense of community around your practice.
- Improved Patient Experience: By addressing patient concerns directly, you can demonstrate your commitment to patient care and improve the overall patient experience.
How to Use Twitter Chats to Build Patient Trust
Twitter chats are scheduled discussions that revolve around specific topics. Utilising this feature on Twitter will allow your audience to hop in and share their thoughts using a designated hashtag. Here’s how you can leverage Twitter chats to build patient trust:
Choose Relevant Topics
Select topics that are relevant to your practice and of interest to your patients. For example, if you are a cardiologist, you might choose topics like heart health, diet, and exercise.
Promote Your Twitter Chat
Announce your Twitter chat in advance on your website, your other social media platforms, and through your email newsletters to get the word out and increase participation.
Use engaging visuals and clear calls to action to attract participants to join the conversation. This will help them become aware of the event and get in touch with other people who might have the same queries as they have.
Engage Actively
During the Twitter chat, try to actively engage with participants by responding to their questions, retweeting their comments, and keeping the conversation flowing. This interaction shows your commitment to patient education and care for their well-being.
Share Useful Information
Provide valuable insights and resources during the chat. Share links to reputable articles, your own blog posts, or downloadable resources that can help participants better understand the topic. Not only does it allow them to gain deeper knowledge about it, but it is also a great way to build patient trust towards you as a healthcare provider.
Follow Up
After the chat, extend your gratitude to your participants for joining and encourage them to stay connected for future discussions. You can also recap the chat’s highlights in a blog post or newsletter to let others know about the information that was shared.
Engaging Patients on Twitter: Live Q&A Sessions
Live Q&A sessions on Twitter offer a more interactive way to engage with patients. These sessions allow patients to ask questions in real time, providing immediate answers and fostering a sense of community. Here’s how to conduct successful live Q&A sessions:
Schedule and Promote
Schedule your live Q&A sessions at a convenient time for your audience and promote them across all your communication channels. You can promote them through your other social media channels, groups, and newsletters to invite participants. Use eye-catching graphics and compelling messages to draw their attention.
Prepare in Advance
Having a live Q&A session means you will be asked a bunch of questions from your audience. Anticipate common questions related to the chosen topic and prepare your responses. This ensures you provide accurate and informative answers during the live session. Make sure it is evidence-based as well.
Be Authentic and Approachable
During the session, be genuine and approachable to your audience. Avoid using medical jargon as this will overwhelm your audience, which will lead them to steer clear from your session. Use a friendly tone and make the conversation more relatable, understandable, and patient-friendly. Remember to give them value first.
Address Privacy Concerns
Sharing one’s privacy will definitely be a concern in case participants have specific questions with regards to their own condition. Remind them not to share personal health information publicly, especially during the live session. This also applies to patients you have handled before.
In case you plan on sharing their story or experience, make sure you have their consent first, and be compliant with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines. Offer to answer sensitive questions via direct messages or private consultations with you instead.
Build Lasting Relationships with Your Patients
After going through what you need to know about Twitter chats and live Q&A sessions, it’s now clear how Twitter can provide valuable tools for healthcare professionals. Leveraging it will help you connect with patients, build trust, and establish yourself as a reliable source of information.
But if you think all of these are too time-consuming and overwhelming for you, leave it to the professionals in medical marketing. Team up with us at Medical Marketing Australia to help you strengthen your relationship with your patients with the help of our Social Media Management solution.
Book a demo now to experience how we can optimise your medical practice in the digital world!
