The MHA has launched a social media advocacy campaign to bolster the efforts of its traditional grassroots advocacy tools (earned media, Hospitals-ACT, etc.). The MHA’s social media efforts include the use of three key Web sites that allow and encourage two-way conversation among the MHA, Michigan hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, other providers, patients, the uninsured, and other members of the general public. The three sites are: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Below you will find descriptions of and directions to each of these sites, where members are encouraged to explore and participate.

YouTube: YouTube is a Web site that allows visitors to post videos of themselves or others for viewing by the general public. Visitors may also create their own “channels” where a larger quantity of related videos can be housed. The MHA created the "MIHospitalAssoc" YouTube channel to present videos of Medicaid patients, the uninsured, health care providers and the general public telling their stories and voicing their concerns about the future of health care in Michigan.

• View the MHA YouTube channel by visiting www.youtube.com/user/mihospitalassoc.

Facebook: Facebook is a social networking site that allows individuals, businesses and other organizations to develop profiles or pages to share information and media with others. The MHA Facebook page contains content being fed from the blog, videos on the YouTube channel, photo albums, etc. Facebook will allow the MHA to send updates directly to the pages’ “fans” and will direct more traffic to the Hospitals-ACT legislative action center. Some key features of Facebook to remember:

• How do I set up a Business Page?
• How do I set up a Personal Account?
• If you already have a Facebook account, you can simply search for “Michigan Health & Hospital Association." You can also view the MHA page by following this link.

Twitter: Twitter is a social networking site that operates like a mass-text messaging service. Users create short (maximum 140 characters) updates or “Tweets” containing eye-catching headlines, news updates, etc. and use those Tweets to link viewers to the source of more information (blog, news article, etc.). The "MIHospitalAssoc" Twitter page will feature updated links, breaking news and other important information regarding the health care community.

• How do I set up a Twitter account?
• Follow the "MIHospitalAssoc" Twitter page by visiting www.twitter.com/MIHospitalAssoc

For a list of Michigan hospitals' social media sites, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding the MHA's social media initiatives, please contact Ruthanne Sudderth at rsudderth@mha.org or Kevin Downey at kdowney@mha.org.