#NIHDigital Summit: Optimizing Digital to Reach Patients, Scientists, Clinicians and the Public

Oct 26, 2015

On October 19th, NIH brought together nearly 1,500 digital and health experts in person and via webcast. The event featured two keynote speakers and panels that showcased the unique perspectives of patients and caregivers, health communicators, health professionals and scientists.

Keynote speaker, Susannah Fox, Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Susannah Fox, Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said we have entered the “third digital era.” First we connected documents, then we connected people. Now in the third era, we can unleash empathy, harness health data and allow everyone access to it, Fox said.

Richard Besser, Chief Health and Medical Editor, of ABC News

Richard Besser, Chief Health and Medical Editor, of ABC News, has learned a few lessons as host of the popular #abcDrBchat. He was surprised by how rude people can be on social media, especially when it comes to scary health issues. He advised to look for the essence of truth in rude questions, and to address the fear with facts.

The Patient and Caregiver Perspective: Managing Health Conditions Using Digital Tools and Social Media

Patient activists Anna McCollister-Slipp and Guy Anthony discussed their first-hand experiences using digital. Talking openly about health conditions has reduced stigma and has enabled connections with other patients.

Rebecca Spencer White used the Internet to find care for her son with a rare disease. She was able to connect with other parents and become an advocate for clinical trials.

Reaching Patients and the Public Where They Are: Sharing High Quality, Evidence-Based Information With the Public on Social Media, Blogs and Mobile Apps

Erin Edgerton of Norvell Digital Edge Communications advised government to emulate what brands do well. Focus on engagement first and awareness last.

Give people tools, not toys. Robert Burchard of the Environmental Protection Agency and Erik Augustson, of the National Cancer Institute, showcased examples of robust tools. EPA’s UV Index and Smokefree.gov support public health interventions.

The Health Professional Perspective: Using Social Media To Get and Share Information and Interact With Other Professionals and Patients

Health professionals have created evidence-based tools that can speed response to emergencies and support public health.

Elizabeth Jarrett of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) HHS and Stacey Arnesen, of the National Library of Medicine at NIH, collaborated to create resources for emergency preparedness, response and recovery. David Cooper described the National Center for Telehealth & Technology’s tools for behavioral health and stress management in the military. Corey Holland at the U.S. Department of Agriculture supports SuperTracker, a free community to track your food, physical activity, weight and goals.

The Scientist’s Perspective: Using Digital and Social Media To Collaborate, Share Ideas and Communicate Research to the Public

Researchers are using digital tools in broad, creative ways. John Didion, of the National Human Genome Research Institute, advocates for adoption of smart pens to move the lab notebook from paper and pencil into the digital world. Margaret M. Farrell, of the National Cancer Institute, doesn’t limit her idea of colleagues to researchers in her office. She connects with a virtual community of practice that includes more than 2,300 cancer control researchers and practitioners.

Megan Moreno, with Seattle Children’s Research Institute, uses social media as a tool to investigate adolescent health and looks for associations between online and offline behavior.

In case you missed it, you can watch the entire webcast and see the agenda. Check out #NIH Digital to read the tweets.

Originally posted by Alison Lemon on Oct 26, 2015
Oct 26, 2015