A: It depends on what you are trying to achieve. Do you want to expand your practice with new patients or create a stronger bond with your existing patients? How's your practice's Web site? Do you post articles of current interest or health tips? Facebook can provide context, and it is likely that you can drive more patients to like your practice on Facebook. What are your practice demographics? Think about what interests followers of Twitter accounts. Do you have the right mix of patients?

Examine your goals and objectives for social media. You might be best served by enhancing your practice's Web site to provide interactive services to your patients and using social media to drive and link patients to your Web site.

Answers to readers' questions were provided by Rosemarie Nelson, MGMA Health Care Consulting Group, Jamesville, New York. She is an editorial consultant for Medical Economics. Send your tech questions to medec@advanstar.com Also engage at http://www.twitter.com/MedEconomics and http://www.facebook.com/MedicalEconomics.