How to Develop a
Thriving Facebook
Patient CommunityDan Hinmon | @HiveDan | HCO | Nov 3, 2017
“A Facebook group is like
instant gratification. You
get answers when you
need them from people
who have been there.”
Janet Gripshover, NP
University of Maryland
Medical Center
“I do not have any family support —
physical or emotional. At times the isolation
and the depression are too much to bear
alone, and that's when I cry a few tears. It is
receiving support from this group that is my
life line.”
Online community member
“Researchers found that patients who
were more knowledgeable, skilled, and
confident about managing their day-to-day
health had healthcare costs that were 8%
lower in the base year and 21% lower in
the next year compared to patients who
lacked this type of confidence and skill…”
Health Affairs | February 2013
How many of you:
Manage a FB page or
group? Manage an
online patient
community?
Community<1,500
Icons by Pierre-Luc Auclair, Jamison Wieser and Parmelyn
Basic
Community 1,500 – 20,000
Advanced
Community 20,000 +
IT Support
Resources for Advanced
Community:
Feverbee.com
CMXHub.com
ReviewMyCommunity.net
Icon by Anton Noskov
7 Steps to SUCCESS
Step 1: ASSESS
What’s the ROI?
Pro Tip: Does the
community meet a key
marketing objective?
Do your patients even
care?
Step 2: LOGISTICS
3 Types of
Facebook Groups:
Secret
Closed
Public
Pro Tip: Use
Description section for
rules and disclosures.
Pro Tip: Design for mobile.
Percentage of FB users who
ONLY log in on mobile: 56.5%
Mobile
Pro Tip: Without daily
management your
community will fail.
Step 3: LAUNCH
Pro Tip: Start with a
small group. Invite
more as activity
increases.
Step 4: INVITE
Pro Tip: The most
successful way to
invite someone to join
your group is a
personal invitation.
Step 5: ENGAGE
Pro Tip: The glue to
community is peer
support - NOT
education. Personal
disclosure is gold.
Step 6: MONITOR
Pro Tip: Resist the
urge to answer
questions. Let the
community nurture
each other.
Step 7: ANALYZE
Pro Tip: Group Insights is
not enough. Install
Grytics, Sociograph, or
another analytics
program.
More tips
Icon by Attilio Baghino
Keep stakeholders in
the loop
Give serious thought
to naming your group.
Screen your new
members.
Schedule your posts.
Use Facebook Live
What about HIPAA?
Clearly state your policy
in your community
description.
Monitor the community
daily for HIPAA
violations.
“It’s okay if someone outs
themselves, but don’t
you out someone.”
“This patient was freaking
out. By the time I saw her
posts there were 5 or 6
comments already. She
got that help right there.”
Janet Gripshover, NP
University of Maryland
Medical Center
Questions?
Dan@HiveStrategies
for a 7 Steps Checklist
