ROCHESTER, MN – A new Center for Social Media launched at the Mayo Clinic in September with the aim of accelerating effective social media use at the clinic – as well as for hospitals, medical professionals and patients worldwide.

"Through this center we intend to lead the healthcare community in applying these revolutionary tools to spread knowledge and encourage collaboration among providers, improving healthcare quality everywhere," said Mayo Clinic president and CEO John Noseworthy, MD.

Lee Aase, who works for Mayo Clinic as manager for Syndications and Social Media and is one of the leaders of the new center, said even though there has been growth and interest in terms of hospitals using social media, there is still a lot of ambivalence and trepidation about engaging in social media.

"Staff at many hospitals wanting to get involved in social media have pointed to Mayo Clinic's activity and experience to help make the case for engagement with their senior leaders," said Victor Montori, MD, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and the center's interim medical director. “One of our goals for the center is to provide a mechanism for this consultation and sharing, so we can help colleagues in healthcare everywhere break down the barriers to involvement."

In addition to the center, the hospital also launched the Mayo Clinic Health Social Media Network, an international group dedicated to using social media to promote healthcare through educational conferences, webinars and the development of social platforms.

The charter members of the network include:
Bon Secours Health System, Marriottsville, Md.
Inova Health System, Falls Church, Va.
Mission Health System, Asheville, N.C.
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (UMCN), Nijmegen, Netherlands
Swedish Health Services, Seattle, Wash.

UMCN will serve as the first network partner and community leader for the European continent and Mayo is seeking organizations to serve as continental community leaders for Africa, Asia, Australia and South America.

"The Social Media Health Network will obviously be active on the Internet, but it will be much more than a website," said Aase. "The network will foster real relationships among health-related organizations and with patients, and those will be cultivated through a mix of online and real-world connections.”