Mayo Clinic and Hootsuite Introduce Social Media Training Program for Health Care

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 1, 2015) - Hootsuite, the most widely used platform for managing social media, and Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media (MCCSM), today announced an industry-leading social media credential for medical and health care professionals. This joint initiative is being launched at the first international Health Care and Social Media Summit presented by Mayo Clinic in Brisbane Australia, September 1-2.

Social media has become a vital communications tool in the health care industry. More than 40 percent of consumers say that information on social media affects the way they deal with their health and another 41 percent of people said social media would affect their choice of doctor, hospital or medical facility. The training program developed by Hootsuite and Mayo Clinic will teach medical and health care communications professionals how to effectively use social media technologies within the health care industry.

"It's important for physicians and other health care professionals to understand how online social networks matter to them," says Farris Timimi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and medical director for MCCSM. "Even if they're not yet active online - or maybe even particularly if they're not involved - what others say about them affects their practices."

"This certificate program will help providers develop practical competency in social media to help influence their online reputations, and will help them begin to see ways they can use these tools to improve their delivery of care and the patient experience," adds Dr. Timimi.

To meet the demands of today's fast-paced health care professional, students can take the course through a web-based format or from a fully optimized mobile experience. The course is offered online through an elearning development agency. Among other things, students in this course will learn:

• The basics of major social networks
• How these social networks fit into the health care industry
• The basics of social media monitoring and analytics
• How to maintain professionalism as a health care worker on social media

"Social media can have massive impact on health care -- it can help promote health, educate people, advance science and connect health care providers with patients. Hootsuite has always championed social media education and this course will make it easy for professionals in the health care industry to learn how to connect with their audience and amplify their messages on social in an effective way," says Greg Gunn, vice president of new product growth at Hootsuite.

Continuing medical education credits for this course will be available to physicians and other health care professionals through Mayo Clinic's School of Continuous Professional Development.

About Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit http://www.mayoclinic.org and http://www.mayoclinic.org/news.

The MCCSM was established to improve health globally by enhancing the use of social networking tools throughout Mayo Clinic, and by providing training and resources to other health care organizations and professionals through its Social Media Health Network. To learn more, visit http://socialmedia.mayoclinic.org.

About Hootsuite

Hootsuite is the most widely used platform for managing social media, loved by over 10 million people around the globe and trusted by more than 800 of the Fortune 1000. With Hootsuite, brands harness the power of social. Our platform brings together your social networks and integrates with hundreds of business applications. It's the one place to build customer relationships, listen to the needs of the market and grow your revenue. To learn more, visit www.hootsuite.com.