For over two decades, the way people communicate has been changing every day, little by little. Today there is no shortage of online communication media such as Facebook and Twitter, blogs, email and even apps designed to make our messages disappear. As a result of these evolving trends, news about health care, health outcomes and workers’ compensation is increasingly found in the social space. This makes it easier and more important for workers’ compensation professionals to share their voice in these conversations.

What are the best sources for workers’ compensation news and where are influential conversations occurring today?

Twitter

On Twitter, conversations happen in the hashtags. Out Front Ideas did a great job of developing the Twitter project, which incorporated a long list of topics, people and organizations where workers’ compensation conversations take place. We would add several more hashtags relevant to the industry, including:

• #casemanagement
• #injuredworker
• #workplaceinjury
• #chronicpain
• #TBI
• #braininjury
• #spinalcord
• #burns

The same resource also lists many of the main industry conferences and related Twitter hashtags. Attendees can share their thoughts online, while those who aren’t able to attend can follow along in real time.

Another great way to stay informed is to follow industry influencers who expand the conversation beyond conferences and meetings into the day-to-day work. They can spread news faster and more directly than traditional media sources. Some of these include:

• @KidsChanceInc
• @wcanalysisgroup
• @rceniceros
• @WCRI
• @workcompking
• @Work_Comp_Wire
• @kimberlyanngeo
• @PRousmaniere

Other website tools are available to find related Twitter conversations for any topic. For example, Symplur.com collects related hashtags for topics to allow users to expand their conversations. Their health care project has compiled a list of hashtags where industry leaders hold regular chats and the list updates as the conversations change.

News

WorkCompWire is an excellent example of where to find tailored news and stories for the workers’ compensation industry. They cover industry moves, legislative and regulatory news, risk management topics and other subjects to help professionals stay informed. One unique feature is their Leaders Speak column where industry leaders share their perspective and expertise.

Safety National’s Conference Chronicles blog provides an excellent resource for event-related news. Their site digests the highlights and key takeaways from conferences throughout the year and was selected by workerscompensation.com as one of the “Best Blogs” in 2016.

The Workers’ Compensation Institute not only offers a blog, but also a weekly newsletter that allows users to find updates right in their inbox. They cover all industry relevant topics, from risk management to claims and medical.

Forums

Sometimes a news story can spark a greater conversation or raise new questions. Online forums take those conversations to the next step and are an outstanding resource for discussions that need more than 140 characters.

On Reddit, users can link to articles, create their own posts, or share videos with other users. Michael Choo, M.D., our chief medical officer, maintains a presence on Reddit to share conversation topics around articles related to case management, chronic pain, rehabilitation, mental health and other workers’ compensation topics. Other users can join in the conversation by sharing a comment or posting related resources.

Looking Ahead

No matter what your news preferences are, there are more sources available than ever to gather updates and stories. Real-time updates from Twitter offer an instant channel for conversations. Topic-specific news sites allow you to tailor your content to the things you care about most, and forums are a great resource for joining more long-term conversations.

Join Paradigm on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest industry news on a range of workers’ compensation topics.