Ron King offered physicians tips for staying safe – online and elsewhere – while discussing controversial issues like gun safety
After the tragic Las Vegas mass shooting on October 1, 2017, the American College of Physicians asked doctors to commit to asking patients about gun safety.
“Regardless of whether one believes guns hurt people or that people hurt people with guns, we have a public health crisis and healthcare professionals have an obligation to do what we can to combat it,” wrote Christine Laine, M.D., M.P.H. and Darren Taichman, M.D., Ph.D. “Feeling uncomfortable about how to talk with patients about guns is not a reason to shy away … Let’s start now. Too many of our patients are in danger. This simply cannot wait.”
Ron Harman King, CEO of Vanguard Communications and an expert in healthcare communications, offered his advice to MedPage Today on how doctors talk about controversial issues with patients when the subject matter can be sensitive and uncomfortable.
“Overall, unless you’re a celebrity, I’d say the chances of more than a handful of online attacks on most campaign participants are relatively small, and a participant may even find himself or herself gathering new supporters and advocates both online and off-line,” said King.
Read the full story on MedPage Today
About Vanguard Communications
We provide education-focused healthcare marketing with a strategy guaranteed to bring in new patients. Through our MedMarketLink program, Vanguard combines the disciplines of online and offline PR, strategic marketing and information technology for healthcare providers.