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The consumer revolution is still spreading.  It’s already upended a whole slew of industries . . . publishing, media, entertainment, consumer goods, retail . . . but until now it’s left healthcare relatively untouched.  But that’s changing.

Yesterday I wrote about the growing phenomenon of online communications forums (aka “Twitter Conversation Communities”) based in Twitter.

Today I wanted to talk about one of those communities that’s of particular interest to me – a group that’s focused on using the power of social networks to help people to get healthier and create a system that works better than the one we have today.

There are over 500 people following the “official” twitter account of the Health Social Media group (@healthsocmed).  Inspired by @PRSarahEvans ‘ #journchat group, a PR student from the University of Alabama named Dana Lewis (@danamlewis ) founded the Health Social Media group in January of 2009.  The group meets every Sunday night at 9 p.m. EDT, and it’s easy to follow along using the hashtag #hcsm .

Sometimes the topics are predictable. HIPAA, privacy and data security.  Health care reform.  This past Sunday, we strayed into some new territory – territory that got a lot more exciting and interesting for me.  We tackled questions such as:

• Who owns social media inside an organization?
• What’s the role of the IT department in social media?

Both of those are subjects that I feel passionate about, and had a great time debating – always respectfully – with my colleagues.  As to who owns social media, refer back to Chris Hall’s post on Humana’s Social Media Chamber of Commerce (”Meeting of the Minds“).  As to the role of IT . . . let’s just say that I’d love for that role to be different from what I see in most companies today.  In healthcare, it’s been my experience that the IT department is concerned with data security (which is as it should be) and little else (which is NOT as it should be).

But I digress (please, come digress WITH me next Sunday night!).  I spoke yesterday with Tom Stitt, who has helped Dana Lewis to moderate and bring some order to the conversation (it’s a big job for a single person – especially one who’s working and going to school!)  Tom is a longtime healthcare pro (he’s currently working on a fascinating project called http://patientcast.org) who’s helped Dana to manage lots of the action that happens between Sunday meetings.

On any given Sunday, there are 50-100 active participants on #hcsm.  But there are a lot more “lurkers” who are watching the action, and are often unsure of the rules of engagement.  Many of them will contact Tom or Dana after the meeting to ask how to participate.  The funny thing is that, while this might look like a committee meeting where one shows his or her credentials before entering, it’s really an open forum.  Anyone can participate at any time.  The only rule is that there’s no “pitching” allowed during the hour of the forum  – a rule that seems to be taken quite seriously.

So what do I get out of it?

• First, I get access to a network of people who care about many of the same things I do.  I’m now following most of the people who are following @healthsocmed.
• Second, I get to hear what things those people are concerned about, working on and wondering how to begin.  That helps me both to learn things I didn’t know before, but also to contextualize my own work a little better
• Third, I have a forum of true experts on whom I can test my ideas and thinking, and be referred to the best thinking out there.

So I think that we’re going to be seeing more communities like this showing up . . . in fact, if you know of other Twitter Conversation Communities, I’d love to see your comments here.

And if you’re interested in Health and Social Media, I suggest the following:

1. Join in the next conversation on Sunday night at 9 p.m. EDT
2. Follow @healthsocmed on Twitter
3. Check out the web site at http://healthsocmed.com
4. Follow along in the HealthSocMed friendfeed room

See you Sunday!

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