Presentation given at Pulse Live 2013 in Birmingham by Dr Kartik Modha. Chairman and CEO of myHealthSpecialist.com, Founder and Chair of Tiko's GP Group.

1. “Digital Health: How technology and
social media is changing our practise”
By Dr Kartik Modha

2. Dr Kartik Modha MRCGP MBBS (Hons) BSc (Hons)
• Graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medicine in 2005
(intercalated Physiology BSc)
• Specialist rotations (FY1-ST2): King’s College Hospital London, Medway
Maritime Kent, Royal Free Hospital London.
• ST3 at James Wigg Practice, Camden PCT, London. MRCGP + CCT in 2010.
• NHS Sessional GP, Locum GP, OOH (triage/PCC/visiting), UCC and industry
media.
• Portfolio GP and ‘Digital Health Entrepreneur’
• Founder and Chair of Tiko’s GP Group – 1700+ GP members
• Chairman and CEO at myHealthSpecialist.com

3. The Internet: Enough collateral connections to be self sustaining.

5. Context and Perspective.

6. GPs practice in isolation - this is our connection with the world wide web

7. GP burnout is not new…

10. We can feel isolated within a mammoth healthcare system

12. Social Media is a tool

13. To break down physical barriers to communication

14. We now live in a fast paced, digitally connected world

15. ‘Social Media’ Options

16. A smartphone improves your online
connectivity
Facebook
(30million+ UK users)
Twitter
(10million+ UK users)
Linkedin
(10million+ UK users)

17. “Listen to many, speak to a few.”
- William Shakespeare

18. • Professional GP network based in Facebook’s social media platform
• Inspired by Steven Johnson You Tube video “Where good ideas
come from” --> “chance favours the connected mind”
• Started by me researching how doctors use online networks for
myHealthSpecialist
• Organic growth
• Started in June 2011 with 20 GPs, now 1700+ GP members
• Focus on sharing information and holding professional networking
events
• Aim to stimulate and support health innovation

20. TGG Core Team (Anatomical right to left)
Finalists for “Innovators of the Year” General Practice Awards 2012:
Malcolm Davies, Me, Tabassum Ahmed, Tom Nolan, Hamed Khan, Amit Vasistha

22. More professional conversations =
Increased clinical connectivity

23. Member Comments
“We can discuss cases, present photos etc much
more easily and without fear than we could
otherwise. Its even easier than face to face
convo's- as you literally type at the start of a
consultation and get a reply at the end”
-Dr HK

24. “Discussions about difficult scenarios are solved
quite easily with multiple brain input”
-Dr PJ
Member Comments

25. “It's been really helpful in my ST3 year so far.
Our VTS sessions are good as a 'safe' place to ask
stupid questions, but they only happen every
other week. This is a faster and v useful
addition/alternative.”
-Dr NC
Member Comments

26. Social Media Guidelines
“The standards expected of doctors do not change
because they are communicating through social media
rather than face to face or through other traditional
media. However, using social media creates new
circumstances in which the established principles
apply.”

27. Social Media Guidelines
Privacy:
 Social Media sites cannot guarantee confidentiality
 Patients, employers, colleagues may be able to access your
personal information
 Photos may have location info embedded in them
 Once published online, a post may be impossible to remove

28. Social Media Guidelines
Benefits:
 Engaging people in public health and policy discussions
 Establishing national and international networks
 Facilitating patients’ access to information about health and
services

29. Social Media Guidelines
Risks:
 Doctor-Patient relationship blurred. Need to maintain a
professional boundary.
 Maintain patient confidentiality at all times. “The sum of
published information online could be enough to identify a
patient or someone close to them”
 Respect colleagues at all times. Defamation laws apply.

30. Social Media Guidelines
Anonymity / Declarations:
 If identifying yourself as a doctor you should use your real
name but not something you must do. Posts by doctors
reflects on the whole profession.
 Anonymous posts can be traced back to their origin
 Declare any conflicts of interest or commercial interests

31. That said… please use it!
1865 ‘Red Flag ‘Act

33. 3-minute social
media break!
Share a post about this talk/conference and
include #PulseLive #digitalhealth
All tweets to @DrKartikModha will get retweeted!

34. Building your own website (or app)

35. my experience with
myHealthSpecialist.com

36. - Created by GPs for GPs and patients
- Peer recommended private specialist network
- Free for GPs and patients
- Funded by recommended specialist subscriptions
- Allows GPs to share recommendations for specialists within a
practice / group, borough and nationally
- Allows patients to search for private specialists based on GP
recommendations
- Aim to improve patient care and save GPs time in
consultations

37. GPs & patients need better info
”The OFT considers that there is a shortage of accessible,
standardised and comparable information provided to patients, GPs
and PMI providers in relation to the quality of PH facilities and of
consultants”
“The OFT patient interviews and the OFT GP survey both indicate
that patients place a great amount of trust in their GPs' opinions and
recommendations”
Report on the market study and final decision to make a market investigation
reference (April 2012)

40. Tips for getting started
1. Have a clear idea of what the problem is
2. Limit the scope for your minimally viable product (MVP)
3. Perform a stakeholder analysis
4. Test your business case with a survey
5. Check for any legal obstacles
6. Draw designs on paper first. Check with your
stakeholders that it meets their requirements.
7. Produce a specification document.
8. Get a quote from a reputable development company
9. Understand the financial and time commitment/risk

41. 10. Have a clear initial route to market
11. Raise money (Budget for twice the time and cost!)
12. Begin development. Keep your scope limited.
13. Rigorous testing (IE6 is a nightmare)
14. Beta test with trusted people /places. Listen to their
feedback and adjust where necessary.
15. Launch to live using your organic online networks
16. Learn about SEO. Backlinks + Video = Good
17. Be patient and willing to learn and adjust as you go
along.
18. Be supportive of each other.
Tips for getting started

42. Great introduction to website usability. Need to also consider increasing mobile
internet use.

43. Questions / Discussion
“Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so much”
- Helen Keller