Advice for the Doctor – Try not to react defensively to unfavorable social media reviews. The age-old advice to pause and take a deep breath before responding in confrontational situations certainly applies here. The best way to address negative publicity is with positive publicity. Encourage satisfied patients, especially the ones more savvy about social media, to post their comments in the right places. This can offset the occasional negative comment.

More about countering negative events with a positive approach. Read Dr. Levin’s blog, “What You Can Learn from Football,” for a fresh perspective on keeping your cool under pressure. You’ll find it here.