In July 2013 I saw the headline: My system was named among the national Most Wired providers. Really? What I really like is irony and I can’t keep quiet about something this ironic.
When you turn on your wireless device at my Medical Center you will see an invitation to “like” it on Facebook. Click on it and you find access is blocked. Try going to your Facebook page, you can’t. Try to Tweet about this Most Wired facility, you can’t.
I have asked why. Answers range from security to patient privacy.
Leadership told me that Most Wired refers internal processes, their medical record and communications. So semantics aside, internally we are well connected. But greater acclaim will come if this medical system starts to connect externally to the rest of the digital world.
Internally, communication amongst ourselves is impeded. I joined Yammer which is a private social network. Only employees of my hospital can see its private Yammer network. In this ‘Most Wired’ hospital all emails from my colleagues about Yammer are filtered out by its spam blocker. The reasons given resolve around security.
At Mayo access to all these Social Media venues are not blocked. Is the largest integrated health system in the world less concerned about security than my system. The reality is that my system shows its weakness in this matter.
Am I trying to stir the pot? You bet I am. I want to engage my own system, in a discussion about the importance of Social Media and Health Care. I am tired of hearing No. Let’s talk instead or as they say in Social Media, let’s engage. It isn’t just Social Media, it is Social Engagement or Exchange.
My hospital needs to be ‘wired’ to the digital community to truly deserve the Most Wired award.
