The Healthcare Data, Technology & Services Blog: Thoughts on #HIT100 – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

source:businessadvicecolumn.com

No one can argue the #HIT100 event hasn’t helped socialize the importance and value of using social media to share information and ideas about information technology and services in the healthcare space. It’s definitely a “good thing.” Alas, like most good things that grow in size and prominence over time, there are always a few bad and ugly aspects. And the #HIT100 event is no exception.

In this post I offer some thoughts and facts that I – and others I’ve read from – have about The Good aspects of the #HIT100 event. I’ll share more about The Bad and The Ugly of the #HIT100 event in two future posts.

The Good

1. Generates awareness of people using social media to advance information technology in the healthcare space

Over 30 – or about one-third – of the 2013 #HIT100 nominations didn't make the 2012 #HIT100 list. Personally I’ve become aware of about 15 new sources of health information technology and related services who frequently share via social media channels.

2. Helps socialize the importance and value of information technology and services in the healthcare space

As Elin Silveous (@ElinSilveous – ranked #23) tweeted: “#HIT100 & #HITsm will serve to broaden reach, encourage more #HIT folks to get involved in SM.”

Or, as David Shaywitz (@DShaywitz – ranked #67) noted: “A freakishly smart way to generate buzz.”

3. Offers recognition to those who invest their time in social media

There’s no doubt being included in the #HIT100 list brings attention. I can attest: Last year I (@ShimCode - ranked #29) was ranked in 5^th place in the #HIT100 and received a lot of recognition including several interviews, 100’s of new followers (who work in the health IT industry) over the ensuing days, an increase in being quoted in articles covering my area of expertise and literally dozens of inquiries as to whether I was interested in new job opportunities.

4. Helps individuals develop their personal brand

This is a natural by-product of my previous comment. Indeed I’ll mention the flip side of this in my future post on The Bad aspect of the #HIT100 event.

5. Provided opportunity for others to share why they think someone deserves recognition in HIT space.

Many “voters” added a note to their nomination and I found that valuable.

6. Offers a little levity over the typically slow and long 4^th of July holiday

The “HIT100 Song” is evidently a candidate for a future Grammy Award nomination (@RossMartin ranked #37)

7. What else did you think about the #HIT100 event?

What Else?

As we all learned in kindergarten, if you can’t say anything nice about someone or something, don’t say anything at all. So now I've shared what I think are the nice/good things about the #HIT100 event. In my next two posts I’ll share some thoughts that I – and others I’ve heard from – have about The Bad and TheUgly aspects of the #HIT100 event.

Footnotes:

2011 – #HIT100 List http://nateosit.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/hit100-the-list/

2012 – #HIT100 List http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/hit100-2012-list-revealed

2013 – #HIT100 List http://www.healthcaretechnologyonline.com/doc/hit-100-list-unveiled-0001