Blogging? No thanks

“My other doctor has an office blog. You should have one, too. They’re really helpful.”

I hear that line a fair amount.

No, thank you.

I legitimately did try to have an office blog 7-8 years ago. I figured it might bring in a few more patients, answer FAQs from others, and give me something to do. So I did some reading, created an account on Blogger, and started one. I think my first post was on multiple sclerosis. Nothing really specific, more just generic “living with MS” tips.

I wrote another the next week, then a third post about 2 months later. Roughly 6 months after starting I gave up and quietly deleted the account.

I have no idea how some doctors have time for that sort of thing. They must have more free time than I do. Maybe they pay someone to write the posts for them. But it didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t have the time, or personal interest, to make it worthwhile. Besides, generic medical blogs spouting common sense (“Eat more vegetables! Exercise!”) are a dime a dozen. To put anything more specific in this day and age runs the risk of litigation.

I like writing, as evidenced by this column. But the time and effort that a regular office blog demanded was beyond what I could put into it, and the nature of the writing needed was more milquetoast than I enjoyed doing.

Time is, perhaps, the most precious commodity we have. Writing a nondescript office blog, as I learned, definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m pretty sure an office Twitter account would be the same, and I have no interest in opening that door.

If another doctor wants to invest time in a blog, that’s fine. I hope it is something worthwhile and that they enjoy it. If a patient thinks that makes them a better doctor, they can.

But not me. If I’m going to devote time to my work, I’ll do it in the best way I know, and the one I still enjoy: seeing and treating patients.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“My other doctor has an office blog. You should have one, too. They’re really helpful.”

I hear that line a fair amount.

No, thank you.

I legitimately did try to have an office blog 7-8 years ago. I figured it might bring in a few more patients, answer FAQs from others, and give me something to do. So I did some reading, created an account on Blogger, and started one. I think my first post was on multiple sclerosis. Nothing really specific, more just generic “living with MS” tips.

I wrote another the next week, then a third post about 2 months later. Roughly 6 months after starting I gave up and quietly deleted the account.

I have no idea how some doctors have time for that sort of thing. They must have more free time than I do. Maybe they pay someone to write the posts for them. But it didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t have the time, or personal interest, to make it worthwhile. Besides, generic medical blogs spouting common sense (“Eat more vegetables! Exercise!”) are a dime a dozen. To put anything more specific in this day and age runs the risk of litigation.

I like writing, as evidenced by this column. But the time and effort that a regular office blog demanded was beyond what I could put into it, and the nature of the writing needed was more milquetoast than I enjoyed doing.

Time is, perhaps, the most precious commodity we have. Writing a nondescript office blog, as I learned, definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m pretty sure an office Twitter account would be the same, and I have no interest in opening that door.

If another doctor wants to invest time in a blog, that’s fine. I hope it is something worthwhile and that they enjoy it. If a patient thinks that makes them a better doctor, they can.

But not me. If I’m going to devote time to my work, I’ll do it in the best way I know, and the one I still enjoy: seeing and treating patients.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“My other doctor has an office blog. You should have one, too. They’re really helpful.”

I hear that line a fair amount.

No, thank you.

I legitimately did try to have an office blog 7-8 years ago. I figured it might bring in a few more patients, answer FAQs from others, and give me something to do. So I did some reading, created an account on Blogger, and started one. I think my first post was on multiple sclerosis. Nothing really specific, more just generic “living with MS” tips.

I wrote another the next week, then a third post about 2 months later. Roughly 6 months after starting I gave up and quietly deleted the account.

I have no idea how some doctors have time for that sort of thing. They must have more free time than I do. Maybe they pay someone to write the posts for them. But it didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t have the time, or personal interest, to make it worthwhile. Besides, generic medical blogs spouting common sense (“Eat more vegetables! Exercise!”) are a dime a dozen. To put anything more specific in this day and age runs the risk of litigation.

I like writing, as evidenced by this column. But the time and effort that a regular office blog demanded was beyond what I could put into it, and the nature of the writing needed was more milquetoast than I enjoyed doing.

Time is, perhaps, the most precious commodity we have. Writing a nondescript office blog, as I learned, definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m pretty sure an office Twitter account would be the same, and I have no interest in opening that door.

If another doctor wants to invest time in a blog, that’s fine. I hope it is something worthwhile and that they enjoy it. If a patient thinks that makes them a better doctor, they can.

But not me. If I’m going to devote time to my work, I’ll do it in the best way I know, and the one I still enjoy: seeing and treating patients.

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Ariz.