Social Media, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, are an integral part of the daily lives of millions of people all over the world. People of all ages and backgrounds use social media, and now even healthcare providers are jumping on the bandwagon.

Many physicians and hospitals have created an online presence. Patients can now become more involved in their health, by staying up-to-date with their physician online through tweets, blogs and Facebook fan pages.

Social Media allows for two-way communication between you and your doctor or hospital. Patients can share inspirational stories, photos, and ask questions. It is important to be careful to protect your privacy, and make sure that you do not over share information for everyone to see. Here are some tips to help you take control of your online health:
<ul>
<li><strong>Take Control </strong>- Create your own online presence on Facebook/Twitter to stay up-tothe- minute on news that is important to you.</li>
<li><strong>Get Connected</strong> – Build your own online knowledge base of trusted sources. (Doctors, Hospitals, Advocacy Groups), much like you would with an address book.</li>
<li><strong>Ask Questions</strong> – There is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to your health, so be sure to ask away. Sending private messages on Facebook, or a direct message (DM) on Twitter is often preferred.</li>
<li><strong>Share</strong> – Becoming an expert is easier than you might think. Any article or information that you think is important to you, may in fact be important to others so do not be afraid to share, and share often.</li>
</ul>
Social Media can be a great way to stay connected with the latest health news, but it is also a fantastic way to stay up-to-date on what is happening for just about any topic you can think of.  Be sure to add the Life Raft Group to your social media knowledge base. Follow us on <a href=”http://twitter.com/Liferaftgroup” target=”_blank”>Twitter</a>  and Like us on <a href=”http://facebook.com/Liferaftgroup” target=”_blank”>Facebook</a>.