Physician Perspectives: The Role of Social Media and Technology in Patient Education
Physician Perspectives: The Role of Social Media and Technology in Patient Education
Matthew Harb, M.D.
- Why did you begin creating orthopedic content online?
As a high-volume joint replacement surgeon, I have always believed that patient education is one of the most important factors in achieving a successful outcome. Surgery is only one part of the journey. Patients who understand their condition, treatment options, and recovery process tend to be less anxious, more engaged, and ultimately better prepared for surgery and recovery.
When I first started creating content online, there was very little reliable orthopedic education available directly from practicing surgeons. Many patients were searching the internet for answers but often found fragmented information, conflicting opinions, or content that was difficult to understand. I saw an opportunity to help bridge that gap by creating educational resources that patients could access anytime, anywhere.
What began as an effort to answer common patient questions has grown into one of the largest orthopedic educational audiences online, reaching more than 2 million followers and generating over 2 billion views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. While those numbers are remarkable, what has been most meaningful is hearing from patients who tell me that a video helped ease their anxiety, clarified their treatment options, or made them feel more prepared for surgery.
Education empowers patients. It helps them understand that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution in medicine and that treatment decisions should be individualized. Whether the answer is physical therapy, lifestyle modification, injections, or surgery, patients deserve access to information that allows them to make informed decisions about their care.
My experience in social media also helped shape my broader interest in technology and patient engagement. It reinforced the idea that patients want to be active participants in their healthcare journey and that digital tools can play an important role in improving education, communication, recovery, and outcomes. Ultimately, my goal has always been the same: put the patient first and give them the information and support they need to achieve the best possible outcome.
- What have you learned from educating patients on social media?
The biggest lesson I've learned is that patients want to be educated. Historically, healthcare often followed a model where a patient met with a physician, received a recommendation, and followed it. Today's patients want to understand their condition, the reasoning behind treatment recommendations, and what alternatives may exist.
Patients are interested not only in treatment but also in prevention. They want to know what exercises may help, how to stay active, how to avoid future problems, and what they can do to improve their long-term health. Musculoskeletal conditions often become lifelong issues that require ongoing management, and education remains one of the most powerful tools we have.
I also believe patients are far more engaged than many physicians realize. They are actively searching for information and looking for ways to participate in their recovery. As healthcare professionals, we should embrace that engagement and find ways to channel it productively.
- Has social media changed the physician-patient relationship?
Absolutely.
Many patients tell me they feel like they know me before they ever walk into the office because they have watched my educational videos. In many ways, some of the initial physician-patient rapport has already been established.
For example, when a patient comes to see me for a hip or knee replacement consultation after watching several of my videos, they often already understand the basics of the procedure, recovery timeline, and treatment options. Instead of spending the entire visit covering introductory information, we can focus on their specific concerns and individual goals.
Patients who are better informed tend to feel less anxious, more prepared, and more confident moving forward. Ultimately, better education leads to better engagement, and better engagement often leads to better outcomes.
- What are the biggest challenges facing patient education today?
One challenge is that medicine is rarely as simple as it appears online. Different surgeons may have different techniques, protocols, and treatment philosophies. Patients need to understand that educational content should serve as a foundation, not a substitute for individualized medical advice.
Another challenge is distinguishing education from marketing. Healthcare is filled with new technologies, implants, devices, and treatments that may be heavily promoted. While innovation is important, patients should understand that newer does not always mean better. The most important question is whether a treatment meaningfully improves patient outcomes.
My advice is to seek information from specialists who treat a high volume of the condition being discussed and to focus on evidence-based information rather than marketing claims alone.
- What role should technology play in patient education and recovery?
I believe technology should play a major role in both education and recovery.
My interest in patient education eventually led me to develop JointBooklet, a digital recovery platform designed to support orthopedic patients throughout their surgical journey. The inspiration came from a printed booklet I created years ago that I gave to every joint replacement patient. It was a comprehensive guide covering everything from preparation through recovery, and many patients treated it like their personal recovery handbook.
The goal of JointBooklet was to take that concept and make it interactive. Today, patients can track their recovery, complete exercises, monitor milestones, view educational resources, communicate with an AI-powered assistant built around my protocols, and even connect activity data through their Apple Watch. The platform also allows physicians to better understand how patients are progressing between visits.
One of the realities of modern healthcare is that a hip replacement may last an hour, but recovery lasts for months. Historically, most of that recovery occurred outside the healthcare system's view. Technology now gives us the opportunity to educate patients continuously, monitor recovery progress, collect outcomes data, and identify concerns earlier than ever before.
- What excites you most about the future of orthopedic care?
Orthopedic surgery has already achieved remarkable success. Today's implants are excellent, surgical techniques continue to improve, and outcomes are consistently strong.
The next major opportunity is not necessarily the operation itself—it is improving the entire patient care experience surrounding the operation.
I believe the future will focus on personalized recovery, continuous education, remote monitoring, patient-reported outcomes, and data-driven care. Patients increasingly expect healthcare to be accessible, interactive, and personalized, and technology allows us to deliver that experience.
The future of orthopedics is not simply performing great surgery. It is helping patients achieve the best possible recovery after surgery. That means extending education, support, and engagement beyond the office visit and into the months that follow. That is where I believe some of the greatest advances in patient care will occur.
Matthew Harb, MD
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Hip & Knee Replacement Specialist
The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics
Website: MatthewHarbMD.com
Patient Recovery Platform: JointBooklet.com