by Tony Chen
There has been a lot of debate around whether these new online social communities are really value-add or just hype. I've been pondering that same question about the Hospital Impact Social Network that was started a few months ago. Frankly, I've been debating with myself on whether to pull the plug on it all together, as the conversations have been sparse.
But little did I know that this little social network was really what planted the seed that has grown up to the first Healthcare 2.0 unconference in the Netherlands. Read the thread here on how it all happened.
This is a great example of how these online connections turn into offline face-to-face "real" friends and connections. Online communities by themselves probably aren't worth too much. But when used correctly and intently, they can facilitate real-life meet-ups that otherwise may not have happened. Hats off to Jen, Maarten, and Martin for taking the initiative to reach out.
I wonder if this has implications for "patient" online communities as well. It's nice to chat/listen with others who face the same struggles with disease as you. But maybe the real value is for these communities to become localized. Online + offline. This may be where progressive hospitals can really add value.