How to hack it? Thanks to the power of social media, associations can rally and advocate on issues using members as social ambassadors. The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) leveraged this approach recently when it launched its Healthcare Simulation Week using the hashtag #HCSimWeek.

The week-long online advocacy effort celebrated medical professionals who use simulated exercises to improve the health, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare. The effort tapped dozens of social ambassadors who posted and shared videos, photos, and messages emphasizing the importance of healthcare simulation. The week’s events included an online photo contest, Facebook Live video chats, and even a cake baked at a medical school in Dubai.

#HcSimWeek This is 'not' a 'Simulated' Cake! A real cake from @MBRUniversity Dubai . A great Sim Week pic.twitter.com/cacsGRojED

— Meghana Sudhir (@symphony23771) September 14, 2017

Why does it work? Social media can turn your members into remote and vocal advocates. The #HCSimWeek hashtag made more than 14,000 individual impressions on Twitter. “Engaging our members as social media ambassadors was key to establishing our first Healthcare Simulation Week,” says Jennifer Manos, SSH’s executive director. “Through the course of the week’s activities, we saw a more than 100 percent increase in our Facebook video views and a more than 835 percent increase in our Facebook page views.”

What’s the bonus? Social ambassadors can also help you experiment with new technology. One of the biggest hits of the Healthcare Simulation Week was the use of 360-degree-view cameras, says Kevin Helm, associate executive director. “We were able to use this [camera] as a test and see if our members would invest in it. Given the great response, we’re hoping to use that at our annual conference too.”

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