Being social: intimacy and serendipity
Jinfo Blog

By Joanna Ptolomey

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I am not the contrary type. But I do have something further to add to my recent conferences are social post.

Communications and social media technologies are indeed excellent ways to have conversations and engagement, but as a recent Financial Times column reminded me, connecting with people IRL (in real life) is still equally important and could have better outcomes for your work.

I have been living out of a suitcase recently - the eternal search for free wi-fi and decent coffee keeping me focused.  In the past I have found these trips often present unexpected and serendipitous moments - allowing me clarity of thought and opportunity that can often be difficult to experience in a regular workday for me.

Let me explain a little more.

I have been sitting on a proposal for a new book. In fact I have been sitting on it for quite a while. The reason – although the background material and chapter outlines look fairly comprehensive and I believe there is a gap in the market, there is something missing that I could not quite put my finger on.

On the flight to DigiPharm, the pharmaceutical digital engagement conference, I sat next to a woman who told me the story of her fight against cancer. She believes that being given the right information (health and non-health) at the right time changed not only her health outcomes, but how she lives her life today. It is amazing what you learn on a 50 minute commuter business flight.

Whilst mingling at lunch in the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, not only did I practise balancing my drink and hot food but managed to meet IRL a Twitter friend of mine. I hope @SharonLeighton won’t mind the mention, but on meeting we realised more about the similarities in our work and discussed the difference appropriate and timely health content can make to all stakeholders in healthcare.

My final recent serendipitous meeting occurred at the Patient Information Forum consumer health event with my second name being the connector. I talked to a stroke survivor who immediately asked if I knew a Ptolomey who helps people volunteer their time in the Inverclyde. I found out how having a stroke – from emergency admission, misdiagnosis, and long term rehabilitation – gives rise to information needs as wide ranging as drug and physiotherapy interventions, adaptations for driving a car, and welfare benefits for health incapacity. It also reinforced the idea as people as assets.

My niche in the healthcare sector required being social - digitally and IRL. Talking to people as they live their life, do their jobs, take their kids to school, pay their bills and have fun I think gives me an edge in understanding how information can play a part in their life.

The last couple of weeks – I think I found what was missing. Thank you people.

By the way Millennium Gloucester, lose the lunch plates with the attached glass holder – they don’t work. I crowdsourced the delegates for you.  

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