The availability of online health information combined with social media channels like Twitter and Facebook has created a new generation of patients. They are empowered. They have a voice in their own care that they never had before. And they're not afraid to use it. Bottom line: If doctors don't take steps to define themselves, patients will.

Maybe you're not a big social media user - but your patients are. And they rely on social media sources when they're finding a doctor or a medical practice. In fact, a recent study concluded that, 80% of new patients and 60% of prospective new patients consulted physician review sites in making their decision. Given these stakes, you can't afford to leave your online reputation to chance.

Kick off your social media efforts today with Establishing, Managing and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices, a comprehensive guide to physicians and social media not available anywhere else. In addition to unique insights from a practicing physician, social media pioneer and author Dr. Kevin Pho, (KevinMD) this book offers doctors a step-by step guide on how they can brand themselves on all of the major social media networks. It also provides insider tips on how to respond to online ratings and a guide on how to work with all of the major reviews sites. Don't let social media chatter define you. Take control of your online reputation now - or someone else will!

From the Foreword, Robert Wachter, MD, says, ". . . whether we like it or not, our online reputation is becoming the main prism through which we will be known - to colleagues, to friends, to patients, to prospective employers. . . . With this realization comes the recognition that we can no longer afford to be passive observers of our online persona."

NOTABLE FEATURES:

* Written by Kevin Pho, MD and co-author Susan Gay. Dr. Pho's blog, KevinMD.com, has been voted the best medical blog, and he has over 100,000 subscribers on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and RSS. Contributor to USA Today, CNN, and the New York Times, and cited regularly by major media.

The book covers:

* Why an online presence is important for doctors
* How patients use social media in choosing doctors and practices
* A step-by-step guide for how practices can brand themselves on all of the major social media sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs) and drive Google traffic through content
* Profiles of the major ratings sites, including Vitals, Yelp, RateMDs.com, Angie's List, ZocDoc and Google+ Local
* Tips for managing your online reputation
* How to respond to online ratings

* Guidelines to online professionalism

* Anecdotes and case studies from Health 2.0 leaders like Susannah Fox, Kerri Morrone Sparling, "E-patient" Dave deBronkart, Natasha Burgert, Wendy Sue Swanson, and Bryan Vartabedian.

Foreword written by Robert Wachter, MD, Dr. Wachter, a board certified internist, is Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Associate Chairman of UCSF's Department of Medicine, Chief of the Medical Service at UCSF Medical Center, and Chief of UCSF's 50-faculty Division of Hospital Medicine.