El Paso Health | About Your Health | Winter 2022

Provider Newsletter Winter • 2022 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PO Box 971100 El Paso, TX 79997-1100 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 From the Desk of David Palafox, MD, DABFM, El Paso Health Medical Director A n average of 4.48 billion people used social media in 2021. Social media has a variety of uses—from connecting with family members to DIY projects. Staying connected with my sons and grandsons is extremely important to me, and social media has allowed me the opportunity to do so. However, what about your patients? If your patients would like to know about upcoming events or confirm their appointments, can they use social media to do so? As technology continues to expand, I encourage you to look at your current social media platforms to see if you are keeping up with the latest technological demands. Patients are looking for different avenues to stay connected during these challenging times, and social media is a great option for them. Some simple updates can mean a decrease in office wait times, answers to open-ended questions, and fewer visits to the emergency department. According to Forbes , 1 in 10 Americans turns to social media for health information. Having more options for your patients leads to better customer service. El Paso Health members have the option of using one of our services called “Virtual Connect.” This is a service that provides face-to-face virtual visits for members with social determinants of health of complex conditions, such as high-risk pregnancies, behavioral health Stay connected with your patients needs, or medical conditions that require specialized intervention. Social media is becoming more of a necessity for our members rather than simply a luxury.