A group of multispecialty physicians started #VerifyHealthcare, an Instagram campaign promoting transparency on the social media platform.
Here's what you should know:
1. Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals' Chief Medical Social Media Officer Austin Chiang, MD, MPH (@austinchiangmdustinchiangmd) was one of the movement's flag bearers. He started the campaign because of a growing trend on Instagram where healthcare professionals provide health information or advice without disclosing their professional qualifications.
2. The campaign encourages physicians to disclose their qualifications online and urge other users to examine who is giving them their medical advice.
3. Dr. Chiang spoke to Becker's ASC Review on the movement. He said, "To me, it's a public health and patient safety concern. It's amazing that it's seemed to resonate among members of the Instagram medical community as much as it has within a week."
4. The campaign is open to all health professionals, including nurses, physician assistants, dentists, psychologists and medical students who are forthcoming with their student status.
5. Dr. Chiang wants the movement to serve as an "ongoing, dynamic discussion to protect the integrity of medical information online."
He said, "As much as Instagram is a platform driven by visuals, we hope this visual reminder also drives the important public health message home."