From Mayo Clinic: May 11, 2010 — People use Twitter to share information: The latest news, current events, what people are talking about, even what's for dinner. Now, people are using it to get access to health care. Last year Mayo Clinic teamed up with USA today and scheduled a Twitter chat about a painful wrist injury. Today a woman who joined that chat is pain free.
If you work for Mayo Clinic, social media is not an option, it's a job requirement http://bit.ly/IHf3lM - Others will follow.
Cleveland Clinic is also active on Twitter by asking staff to participate in scheduled chats with patients on a variety of health topics.
See an example here: Heart numbers to know - by Cleveland Clinic
Here is how to facilitate the Rise of the ePhysican who works hand in hand with the ePatient:
Related reading:
Erin Turner's Mayo Clinic e-Patient Success Story
How Should Hospitals Use Twitter? This Twitter discussion in 2008 prompted @EdBennett to start his world-famous list.
Top U.S. Hospitals Are On Twitter
Social media in medicine: How to be a Twitter rockstar and help your patients and your practice