Akron Children’s Hospital is using social media to give parents an inside look at one of the most common pediatric procedures.
The hospital will share live updates via Twitter and on its blog — http://bit.ly/tubes4jordan — before, during and after an ear tube insertion procedure, starting about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The patient, 20-month-old Jordan Pollock of Seville, also will have his adenoids removed.
People can view updates and photos on Twitter using the hashtag #tubes4jordan.
His mother, Megan, has been sharing the family’s journey on a hospital blog since he was diagnosed with spina bifida during a fetal ultrasound. (The blog is available at http://bit.ly/labor-of-love)
Dr. Anton Milo, director of Akron Children’s Hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat Center, will take questions about ear tube surgery and adenoid removals after he performs the procedures. Questions can be sent via Twitter to @AkronChildrens or submitted to the hospital’s Facebook page or blog.
Hospitals across the country increasingly are using Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools as part of their marketing and communication strategies.
More than 1,500 of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals use at least one social networking site, according to the Mayo Clinic’s Health Care Social Media List. Facebook is the most popular site, used by 1,264 hospitals, followed by Foursquare and Twitter.
One study found more than half (57 percent) of consumers indicated a social media connection with a hospital was likely to have a strong impact when they are deciding where to seek care.
Walk with Doc
Summit Mall is joining with the Cleveland Clinic’s Medina Hospital to offer a monthly Walk with a Doc program, beginning 8 a.m. Feb. 20.
The nonprofit, nationwide program encourages patients to improve their health by exercising alongside health-care providers.
Dr. Carrie Diulus, an orthopedic spine surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, will talk about how exercise benefits spine health after a 30-minute walk during the kickoff event.
To reserve a spot, call 330-867-6997, ext. 23.
Preventing drug abuse
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is sponsoring a contest to encourage high school students to join the Prescription for Prevention campaign against prescription drug misuse and abuse.
Entries are being accepted for infographics, websites, videos and posters until Feb. 24.
All entries must include at least five of these eight facts about prescription drug abuse:
• In Ohio, since 2007, there have been more deaths from drug overdose than from motor vehicle traffic crashes. (Source: Office of Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health)
• More than 25 percent of Ohio high school students have reported using a prescription drug they had not been prescribed at least once. (Source: Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Ohio Department of Health)
• Every day, 2,700 teens (ages 12-17) abuse a prescription drug for the first time. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• One in three high school students reports knowing someone who abuses or misuses prescription drugs. (Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study)
• One in three teens surveyed says there is “nothing wrong” when using prescription drugs “every once [in] a while.” (Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.
• Prescription pain killers cause more overdose deaths among Ohio residents than heroin, cocaine and marijuana combined. (Source: Office of Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health)
• More than two Ohio residents 15-24 died each week from unintentional drug overdose in 2009-10. (Source: Office of Vital Statistics, Ohio Department of Health)
• Four percent of teenagers consider prescription drugs safer than illicit drugs. (Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy)
The winner — to be announced during the Boys State Basketball Tournament in March — will receive $500 for advanced education from OHSAA’s Prescription for Prevention campaign.
Entry forms are available at www.ohsaa.org/news/misc/PrescriptionEntry.pdf.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/abjcherylpowell.
