http://e-patients.net/archives/2007/10/open-internet-vs-closed-doctor-directed-systems.html because health professionals can't do it alone Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:53:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://e-patients.net/archives/2007/10/open-internet-vs-closed-doctor-directed-systems.html/comment-page-1#comment-51 Judith Feder Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:05:30 +0000 http://72.9.147.40/archives/2007/10/open-internet-vs-closed-doctor-directed-systems.html#comment-51 Susannah, this is a big issue, obviously. There is no one answer on how to find the right medical information at the right time, but I'm convinced of a couple of things: 1. the "wisdom of crowds" is an essential complement to search engine overload. People are turning to one another in many spheres of their lives to get reliable information and filter out the noise. It holds true with health information, as well. 2. Web 2.0 capabilities that are being used on sites and social networks throughout the Web could really bring the chat room/list.serv conversation to a new level. Why not tagging clouds to identify key issues on the minds of e-patients with a common condition? How about social tagging to flag sites, articles, etc. that are particularly useful? I have NOTHING against doctor-directed sites. However, I do think that the wisdom of patients is undervalued and under-used on the Web, and that doctors themselves would do well to engage us in conversation, not just deliver to us what they already know. Judy Susannah, this is a big issue, obviously. There is no one answer on how to find the right medical information at the right time, but I’m convinced of a couple of things: 1. the “wisdom of crowds” is an essential complement to search engine overload. People are turning to one another in many spheres of their lives to get reliable information and filter out the noise. It holds true with health information, as well. 2. Web 2.0 capabilities that are being used on sites and social networks throughout the Web could really bring the chat room/list.serv conversation to a new level. Why not tagging clouds to identify key issues on the minds of e-patients with a common condition? How about social tagging to flag sites, articles, etc. that are particularly useful?
I have NOTHING against doctor-directed sites. However, I do think that the wisdom of patients is undervalued and under-used on the Web, and that doctors themselves would do well to engage us in conversation, not just deliver to us what they already know.
Judy

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