Physician online communities

The doctors’ lounge: A hallowed space for sharing challenging cases and discussing the Affordable Care Act or a place to catch a nap and commiserate? It can (and likely should) be both. Unfortunately, doctors’ lounges are a thing of the past for many of today’s physicians. Whether you’re in private practice or work in a place that simply has no social space for physicians, it can be difficult to connect and share professional and personal information with colleagues.

Technology is offering a solution. In the last few years, physician-only online communities have burgeoned. Sermo, the largest of these communities, boasts more than 125,000 licensed physicians from more than 65 specialties as members. Other big players include Medscape Physician Connect and Doximity. Many smaller specialty-specific communities have surfaced as well, such as OrthoMind.com and MomMD.com, social networks exclusively for orthopedic surgeons and women in medicine (including nurses and residents), respectively.

Unlike open social forums such as Facebook and Twitter, these physician communities are closed social networks, which means that only credentialed members can join and participate. This exclusivity has been a large draw for physicians otherwise skeptical of using social networks. However, it’s worth noting that several sites allow access to other health care providers, including nurses, residents, and medical students.

Ideally, these close social networks exist to help physicians maximize benefits (collaborating and networking) and reduce risks (liability and online reputation). To allay concerns of risk, some sites, including Sermo and Medscape, allow confirmed physicians to choose an alias. On the upside, such anonymous posting allows for franker discussions; on the downside, it can lend itself to unprofessionalism, such as posting inappropriate or incendiary comments.

How many physicians are using these online physician communities? Between 25% and 28%, according to a 2011 study from QuantialMD, and a 2012 study from the Journal of Medical Internet Research. These numbers continue to grow.

If you’ve wondered whether to join a physician-only online community, here are six potential benefits:

• Curbside consults. These communities provide access to thousands of physicians, including specialists, which offers you a tremendous opportunity to get a curbside consult for that difficult patient. Often you can get both diagnostic and treatment suggestions quickly and cost free.

• Current event information. Missed a journal or a conference? These communities are great ways for you to stay informed. You can ask questions or simply follow conversations based on particular topics.

• Help with patient management. We’ve all had to work with difficult patients; the truth is some of us are better at it than others. These communities allow you to ask for advice (anonymously if you’re more comfortable with that) from other professionals who have navigated similar situations successfully and wish to help.

• The ability to share best practice information. Whether it’s a new medication or an office management solution, online communities are rich resources for sharing best practices. Many sites also allow you to poll fellow members, which yields personalized, instantaneous, real feedback.

• The ability to become a thought leader/expert. Whether you’re an established expert in your field or are building your reputation, these communities are effective vehicles for identifying people who stand out from the pack. Establishing yourself as a respected leader in a community can also lead to professional opportunities such as speaking invitations or other leadership roles.

• Networking. Sometimes we physicians forget that it’s beneficial to simply be social. These communities don’t always have to be about improving office efficiency or diagnosing difficult cases; sometimes they can simply be a place to hang out and connect with like-minded people. It’s not uncommon for online relationships to develop into real-life ones, such as connecting at a conference or collaborating on a volunteer project.

Remember, like any worthwhile network, these sites are only as valuable as your participation in them. And before posting questionable material, make sure it’s content that you would be comfortable sharing with a physician in person.

If you belong to a physician-only online community, please share your thoughts with us online, via the Skin & Allergy News Facebook page, or via e-mail ([email protected]). What benefits or drawbacks have you encountered?

The next time you need advice on a challenging case or simply feel like connecting with colleagues, consider joining a physician online community. Just realize that there won’t be any hot coffee and donuts.

Dr. Jeffrey Benabio is a practicing dermatologist and Physician Director of Healthcare Transformation at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Connect with him on Twitter @Dermdoc or drop him a line at [email protected].

The doctors’ lounge: A hallowed space for sharing challenging cases and discussing the Affordable Care Act or a place to catch a nap and commiserate? It can (and likely should) be both. Unfortunately, doctors’ lounges are a thing of the past for many of today’s physicians. Whether you’re in private practice or work in a place that simply has no social space for physicians, it can be difficult to connect and share professional and personal information with colleagues.

Technology is offering a solution. In the last few years, physician-only online communities have burgeoned. Sermo, the largest of these communities, boasts more than 125,000 licensed physicians from more than 65 specialties as members. Other big players include Medscape Physician Connect and Doximity. Many smaller specialty-specific communities have surfaced as well, such as OrthoMind.com and MomMD.com, social networks exclusively for orthopedic surgeons and women in medicine (including nurses and residents), respectively.

Unlike open social forums such as Facebook and Twitter, these physician communities are closed social networks, which means that only credentialed members can join and participate. This exclusivity has been a large draw for physicians otherwise skeptical of using social networks. However, it’s worth noting that several sites allow access to other health care providers, including nurses, residents, and medical students.

Ideally, these close social networks exist to help physicians maximize benefits (collaborating and networking) and reduce risks (liability and online reputation). To allay concerns of risk, some sites, including Sermo and Medscape, allow confirmed physicians to choose an alias. On the upside, such anonymous posting allows for franker discussions; on the downside, it can lend itself to unprofessionalism, such as posting inappropriate or incendiary comments.

How many physicians are using these online physician communities? Between 25% and 28%, according to a 2011 study from QuantialMD, and a 2012 study from the Journal of Medical Internet Research. These numbers continue to grow.

If you’ve wondered whether to join a physician-only online community, here are six potential benefits:

• Curbside consults. These communities provide access to thousands of physicians, including specialists, which offers you a tremendous opportunity to get a curbside consult for that difficult patient. Often you can get both diagnostic and treatment suggestions quickly and cost free.

• Current event information. Missed a journal or a conference? These communities are great ways for you to stay informed. You can ask questions or simply follow conversations based on particular topics.

• Help with patient management. We’ve all had to work with difficult patients; the truth is some of us are better at it than others. These communities allow you to ask for advice (anonymously if you’re more comfortable with that) from other professionals who have navigated similar situations successfully and wish to help.

• The ability to share best practice information. Whether it’s a new medication or an office management solution, online communities are rich resources for sharing best practices. Many sites also allow you to poll fellow members, which yields personalized, instantaneous, real feedback.

• The ability to become a thought leader/expert. Whether you’re an established expert in your field or are building your reputation, these communities are effective vehicles for identifying people who stand out from the pack. Establishing yourself as a respected leader in a community can also lead to professional opportunities such as speaking invitations or other leadership roles.

• Networking. Sometimes we physicians forget that it’s beneficial to simply be social. These communities don’t always have to be about improving office efficiency or diagnosing difficult cases; sometimes they can simply be a place to hang out and connect with like-minded people. It’s not uncommon for online relationships to develop into real-life ones, such as connecting at a conference or collaborating on a volunteer project.

Remember, like any worthwhile network, these sites are only as valuable as your participation in them. And before posting questionable material, make sure it’s content that you would be comfortable sharing with a physician in person.

If you belong to a physician-only online community, please share your thoughts with us online, via the Skin & Allergy News Facebook page, or via e-mail ([email protected]). What benefits or drawbacks have you encountered?

The next time you need advice on a challenging case or simply feel like connecting with colleagues, consider joining a physician online community. Just realize that there won’t be any hot coffee and donuts.

Dr. Jeffrey Benabio is a practicing dermatologist and Physician Director of Healthcare Transformation at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Connect with him on Twitter @Dermdoc or drop him a line at [email protected].

The doctors’ lounge: A hallowed space for sharing challenging cases and discussing the Affordable Care Act or a place to catch a nap and commiserate? It can (and likely should) be both. Unfortunately, doctors’ lounges are a thing of the past for many of today’s physicians. Whether you’re in private practice or work in a place that simply has no social space for physicians, it can be difficult to connect and share professional and personal information with colleagues.

Technology is offering a solution. In the last few years, physician-only online communities have burgeoned. Sermo, the largest of these communities, boasts more than 125,000 licensed physicians from more than 65 specialties as members. Other big players include Medscape Physician Connect and Doximity. Many smaller specialty-specific communities have surfaced as well, such as OrthoMind.com and MomMD.com, social networks exclusively for orthopedic surgeons and women in medicine (including nurses and residents), respectively.

Unlike open social forums such as Facebook and Twitter, these physician communities are closed social networks, which means that only credentialed members can join and participate. This exclusivity has been a large draw for physicians otherwise skeptical of using social networks. However, it’s worth noting that several sites allow access to other health care providers, including nurses, residents, and medical students.

Ideally, these close social networks exist to help physicians maximize benefits (collaborating and networking) and reduce risks (liability and online reputation). To allay concerns of risk, some sites, including Sermo and Medscape, allow confirmed physicians to choose an alias. On the upside, such anonymous posting allows for franker discussions; on the downside, it can lend itself to unprofessionalism, such as posting inappropriate or incendiary comments.

How many physicians are using these online physician communities? Between 25% and 28%, according to a 2011 study from QuantialMD, and a 2012 study from the Journal of Medical Internet Research. These numbers continue to grow.

If you’ve wondered whether to join a physician-only online community, here are six potential benefits:

• Curbside consults. These communities provide access to thousands of physicians, including specialists, which offers you a tremendous opportunity to get a curbside consult for that difficult patient. Often you can get both diagnostic and treatment suggestions quickly and cost free.

• Current event information. Missed a journal or a conference? These communities are great ways for you to stay informed. You can ask questions or simply follow conversations based on particular topics.

• Help with patient management. We’ve all had to work with difficult patients; the truth is some of us are better at it than others. These communities allow you to ask for advice (anonymously if you’re more comfortable with that) from other professionals who have navigated similar situations successfully and wish to help.

• The ability to share best practice information. Whether it’s a new medication or an office management solution, online communities are rich resources for sharing best practices. Many sites also allow you to poll fellow members, which yields personalized, instantaneous, real feedback.

• The ability to become a thought leader/expert. Whether you’re an established expert in your field or are building your reputation, these communities are effective vehicles for identifying people who stand out from the pack. Establishing yourself as a respected leader in a community can also lead to professional opportunities such as speaking invitations or other leadership roles.

• Networking. Sometimes we physicians forget that it’s beneficial to simply be social. These communities don’t always have to be about improving office efficiency or diagnosing difficult cases; sometimes they can simply be a place to hang out and connect with like-minded people. It’s not uncommon for online relationships to develop into real-life ones, such as connecting at a conference or collaborating on a volunteer project.

Remember, like any worthwhile network, these sites are only as valuable as your participation in them. And before posting questionable material, make sure it’s content that you would be comfortable sharing with a physician in person.

If you belong to a physician-only online community, please share your thoughts with us online, via the Skin & Allergy News Facebook page, or via e-mail ([email protected]). What benefits or drawbacks have you encountered?

The next time you need advice on a challenging case or simply feel like connecting with colleagues, consider joining a physician online community. Just realize that there won’t be any hot coffee and donuts.

Dr. Jeffrey Benabio is a practicing dermatologist and Physician Director of Healthcare Transformation at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Connect with him on Twitter @Dermdoc or drop him a line at [email protected].