Networking is an essential part of any professional's career, and healthcare professionals are no exception. Whether you are a medical student, a doctor, a nurse, or a pharmacist, networking with other healthcare professionals can help you build your career and stay up to date on the latest trends in the industry. There are many platforms and channels you can use to network and connect with healthcare professionals, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook groups, online forums, blogs, podcasts, webinars, and online events. Here are six strategies for networking with medical professionals that can help you create and cultivate your own network. One of the best ways to network with medical professionals is to volunteer.
Some community events and professional associations may offer volunteer opportunities, so consider donating your medical experience. Volunteering can not only provide you with new experiences and introduce you to new people, but it also improves your reputation and gives you the opportunity to fulfill yourself personally. Even if you don't have a lot of free time, a little is enough. Many medical volunteer opportunities can be found online through organizations such as Maven Project, The United Way, and VolunteerMatch. Sermo is perhaps the most popular website for healthcare providers today, focusing on connecting “verified and accredited doctors” from around the world in 150 countries, with plans to expand even further globally.
Doctors can ask their colleagues anonymous questions about patient care in this “virtual doctor room”. Currently, the site has more than 800,000 users. Another site with more than half a million users is Doximity. It targets U. S.-based physicians in all specialty areas.
According to the company, it is the largest community of health professionals in the country, with 70% of all U. S. doctors already registered as members. Doximity is also ideal for pharmacists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
You can even earn some of your Category 1 CME credits by reading medical journal articles through this site. Available on desktop computers, Android and iOS devices is DailyRounds. It's an international community of doctors with around 30,000 members. The platform allows doctors to chat, share their medical experience, upload case files and access a drug database. It's a comprehensive network for doctors seeking professional advice and camaraderie. With a slightly smaller number of members is Among Doctors.
It's a networking platform similar to Sermo and Doximity. With Among Doctors, doctors can create private groups that include trusted professionals for counseling and collaboration. The biggest advantage of Among Doctors is that it is exclusively for medical professionals; doctors must be verified with their real names while pharmaceutical representatives and other “vendors” are prohibited from joining. Different groups and forums are available for each specialty and medical topic, allowing you to choose which professionals you would like to interact with the most. Medical referrals are a great way to build a patient base but just as important is your network of informal referrals. Once you have a job you can work alongside new colleagues which is a great way to grow your professional network.
It has become one of the largest Internet networks for medical professionals and a vital tool for saving lives with the participation of millions of healthcare providers. Since 1999 the dedicated medical students and residents who founded the group have been committed to providing assistance to younger medical students during all phases of their studies from high school to the opening of their first office. Both medical students and licensed doctors will enjoy connecting with their peers around the world on this professional networking site. It's important for professionals in the healthcare industry to stay relevant on social media so that they can easily connect with their colleagues and stay up to date on new research trends and opportunities and most importantly have a sense of community. Health professionals are some of the busiest people and the virtually instant connections provided to doctors through various social networks are likely to be invaluable. Remember that you get what you give so get out there participate be open to new experiences and get ready to reap the benefits of intelligent professional networks. A medical coworking space is a great opportunity to develop your network and at the same time focus on your patients without worrying about the logistics that usually accompany managing your own doctor's office. These six networking strategies for healthcare providers can help you create and cultivate your own network of medical professionals. But have you ever considered what networks outside your office could do for you? By networking with outside professionals you have the opportunity to create a stronger office for your patients and to train your team with resources from trusted professionals.
