Medicine 3.0: 25 Excellent Social Media Sites for Your Health

November 29, 2010

Recently, Health 2.0 reported that 34 percent of Americans turn to social media for health research. Their information, based upon an iCrossing report, shows that consumers choose Wikipedia, online forums and message boards as their most favored resources for information. Additionally, while these users are looking for answers, they also seek support and interaction.

Interaction is what makes social media a bit different than Web 2.0. While Web 2.0 provides the tools for interaction between a user and a Web site, it may not provide the interaction required for a true “social” experience between the user and other users or site participants. For instance, teens and some adults who have disabilities and diseases such as cancer already use social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.com to connect with peers.

Social media is not “top down” information with little to no interaction. While government groups struggle to impart information such as the latest news about tainted peanut butter products through blogs, Twitter and other Web 2.0 tools, others know that this isn’t enough. When you impart information, you also must respond. It is the era of the consumer, and the consumer is in control.

While some government groups still struggle with social interaction, many grassroots groups and visionaries ‘get it.’ The following 25 sites — among many dozens of other consumer-oriented social media sites — provide venues for patients, advocates, medical personnel, and others to interact on a level playing field. These tools allow news to flow freely, collaboration to become second-nature and support to become as pandemic as the diseases that threaten today’s populations.

The following sites are listed alphabetically under each category. This methodology shows that we do not favor one site over another. Instead of top-down news and information, these sites provide information based upon user-generated input. You can read the latest news about any medical condition or offer and receive support and advice at these sites. Read more

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Managing Your Online Reputation in the New World of Social Media

October 6, 2010

How do you manage your online reputation when everyone is a critic? That’s the question many of our physicians are asking us today. The answer requires a shift in the way we relate with consumers, moving away from one-way storytelling to strategies that enable conversations with prospective patients. Implementing a reputation management program as a true extension of your marketing efforts is a must now more than ever.

The impact of social media channels on businesses today is huge, because everyone now has a voice that can be heard. Rating and review sites are a great example. They continue to have a profound and, in some cases, paralyzing impact on businesses of all sizes. Along with the multitude of brand advocates you can acquire, you may encounter detractors along the way, some more vocal than others, which is why it’s become critical to manage your online reputation. These sites, as with the web in general, move fast – much faster than any one practice can keep up with.

Remember the phrase “word of mouth?” It used to describe how one person would tell one person something, then that person would tell another, and so on. The advent of the Internet, its ease of use, and consumer adaptability bring a new meaning to the phrase, challenging us to think globally, as in “world of mouth.” In fact, a study conducted by Opinion Research earlier this year found that more than 32 percent of consumers had personally posted feedback or a review on a website after an experience with a product or service. This percentage will likely grow rapidly. For cosmetic surgery practices, it is nearly impossible to escape the likelihood of being evaluated. Your fans, your critics, your current and prior employees, your competition and anyone with Internet access (and an opinion) can post a comment, or rate or review you at any given time. Read more

Written by leslie · Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine News, Business Articles | 1 Comment

Earnings Preview: Allergan

April 29, 2010

Allergan (AGN) is expected to report Q1 earnings Friday, April 30 before the market open, with a conference call scheduled for 9 am ET.

Guidance

Analysts are looking for EPS of 60c on revenue of 1.11B. The consensus range is 58c-66c for EPS, and $1.07B-$1.18B for revenue, according to First Call. In early February the company gave Q1 EPS guidance of 57c-59c. At the time the EPS consensus estimate for Q1 was 68c. Botox sales may have strengthened as a result of the economic recovery and a rebound in discretionary consumer spending. Another positive for Q1 is seen coming from Latisse, a drug that has been found to enhance eyelash growth. Ophthalmic drugs should also be a positive driver for Allergan in Q1. Possible negative pressures this quarter may be seen coming from Dysport competing for Botox sales.

Analyst Views

On April 19, Goldman Sachs upgraded Allergan to Conviction Buy from Neutral.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/201757-earnings-preview-allergan

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Differentiation: The key to generating more business in a soft market

April 23, 2010

The economy has the cosmetic plastic surgery business sagging and in need of a real lift.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently released some concerning statistics about the cosmetic plastic surgery business. In 2009, according to ASAPS, spending on plastic surgery services fell 20 percent to $10.5 billion. Further, the number of cosmetic surgical procedures dropped by 17 percent to 1.47 million.

Certainly the worst economy since the Great Depression played a major role in the decrease. Unfortunately, it’s likely to remain as such at least through the next several quarters. Aesthetic medicine practices of all sizes now must work even harder in a competitive industry to win their piece of a diminishing – at least for the time being – market. Read more

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Merz to complete acquisition of BioForm Medical

February 23, 2010

Merz Pharma Group has reported that the subsequent offering period of the tender offer by Merz GmbH & Co and its acquisition subsidiary to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of BioForm Medical at a price of $5.45 per share, net to the seller in cash expired as scheduled on February 18, 2010.

Based on final information from the depositary for the tender offer, 45.4 million shares, representing approximately 95.7% of the outstanding shares of common stock of BioForm Medical, were validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the subsequent offering period. All such shares have been accepted for payment in accordance with the terms of the tender offer, and Merz has or will promptly pay for all such shares. Read more

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Aesthetic Accreditation Agency Established

December 15, 2008

Recently in California, medical spas have been the target of legislation intended to regulate the medical spa industry. Aesthetic Accreditation Agency was established in 2008 due to new legislative changes that seek to improve patient safety and the standard of care in the medical spa setting. While hospitals and surgery centers have been accredited by several organizations for decades, the aesthetic facility environment has not had a dedicated accreditation program that examines all aspects of patient safety and quality care. Aesthetic Accreditation Agency is an accrediting and consulting program which will continually monitor and implement advances in aesthetic quality patient care. This requires constant review and revision of standards to reflect the latest changes and developments. We are at the forefront of legislative efforts to provide patients with safety and quality assurance in the medical spa setting. Read more

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California Bill could Put non-Physician Owned MedSpas out of Business

April 16, 2008

URGENT UPDATE (4-16-08) AB 2398 COSMETIC REGULATION

(Submitted by Norman C. Davis, Esq.)

The Business & Professions Committee of the State Assembly held a bill hearing on April 9, 2008 at which time the proposed AB 2398 (Amended April 1, 2008) was presented to the Committee. Unfortunately, following a brief discussion and only a few minor changes made, the bill was approved by the Committee.

An amended draft of the bill was drafted on 4-10-08 and was approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on April 15^th. The bill will now go to the full Assembly where it must be approved prior to May 31, 2008 in order to be sent to the Senate or it will die. Refer to the current attached draft.

This legislation is sponsored by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and if passed will have a monumental impact on physicians, nurses, NPs , PAs and management companies involved in the aesthetic field. Physicians who are involved in aesthetic practices on a part-time basis must be on-site, providing direct supervision of delegated procedures, and must personally provide good faith exams on all patients prior to delegation. RNs will not be allowed to perform any procedures without the physician on-site unless the treatment is performed in a physician owned office with certain restrictions. Read more

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Adding cosmetic procedures lifts internists sagging incomes

April 8, 2008

A few years ago, Bill J. Johnson, ACP Member, was spending most of his day treating patients for hypertension, diabetes and other chronic ailments. But while he enjoyed his work, his income had stagnated amid tightening insurance reimbursements. That’s when he began to think about adding aesthetic procedures to his menu of services.

Dr. Johnson took the leap in 2005, starting by offering botulinum toxin injections and then dermal filler injections at his office in Grapevine, Texas, a Dallas suburb. Patients responded so well that he’s added more procedures and opened a second office, called Innovations MedSpa, devoted strictly to aesthetic medicine. In all, he’s invested about $600,000 for 11 pieces of equipment, but his aesthetics business is free of insurance hassles. Income is up “several fold.” Read more

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Key Legal Issues for Medical Spas and Aesthetic Medical Practices

March 19, 2008

Key Legal Issues for Medical Spas and Aesthetic Medical Practices

Aesthetic medicine requires careful attention to the intersection of corporate practice of medicine, licensing, anti-kickback and fee-splitting considerations, and other legal and regulatory issues. This overview will help you better understand the legal implications of opening a medical spa.

Both physicians who want to either open a medical spa or add aesthetic medical procedures to their existing practice, and entrepreneurs who want to either open a medical spa or incorporate aesthetic medical procedures to a wellness center, can benefit from a better understanding of some of key legal issues involved. These legal issues are common to a variety of practices and organizations that offer emerging therapies beyond conventional medical care, whether in a medical spa or dermal clinic, a holistic health care facility, a wellness center, or an ‘integrative medicine clinic’ that includes complementary and alternative medical treatments (such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietary supplement recommendations) in its patient care. Read more

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Understanding Staff Needs

March 11, 2008

The staff you employ can make or break your practice – period. When aesthetic patients are using their own money for elective procedures, their experience with you (and your staff) needs to be a good one – every single time. Because if it’s not, they will go where they are treated better and they’ll take their friends with them.

Frankly, your staff’s patient relations skills are just as important as your aesthetic skills when it comes to growing your aesthetic practice. Read more

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