Tracking Medical Errors Using Social Media

ProPublica has posted an interesting read on how they are using social media to track medical errors and patient harm.

For researchers as well as social media types, it’s a pretty good read.

So far, these efforts include:

–  A Facebook group with over 1,350 members, who share stories, swap practical advice and engage in constructive dialogue.

–  A questionnaire for patients and their families, which has generated nearly 260 tips since May

–  A series of discussions with medical providers and a questionnaire that has generated 50 tips since September

–  A community page on ProPublica.org featuring all of the above, plus Q&As with other health care reporters, resources for patients and related coverage.

Why go through all this effort? Because we are interested in using social media to source our journalism instead of just promote it.