A New World of Healthcare Media

Since the dawn of the information age, traditional media – radio, television and print -- has played a vital role in educating people about public health issues. From the impact of polio on children in the 20th century, to the 1990s focus on HIV/AIDs, to today's spotlight on diseases impacting the developing world, our healthcare media has rightly turned our attention – and sometimes the government's attention – to health issues that impact us all. Today we are entrenched in a new world of media– one where the flow of information is constant – and often demanded. This presentation will examine how traditional healthcare media has evolved in the 21st century to meet this information demand. Additionally, we will look at how social media and online communities such as CarePages.com are helping individuals with chronic diseases cope with their health issues. A March 2010 report by the Pew Internet and America Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation showed that people fighting chronic illnesses are using social media to find information about their disease and connect with others who suffer similar diagnoses. Finally, we will examine how some medical professionals are using twitter and Facebook to connect with their patients in a whole new way.