Dr. Pauline Chen, a regular columnist for The New York Times just wrote about, believe it or not, the use of social networking sites and online medicine and how they can be a positive update in how we practice medicine and maintain patient relationships.

Dr. Chen's column cited a survey published today by the Pew Internet and American Life Project that reports that 61 percent of Americans go online for health information, and the majority of them have turned to user-generated health information. While these numbers show the vast potential of tapping into social networking sites as avenue of patient relationship maintainence, it also points out a huge flaw: Much of this information, especially user-created lacks real, evidence-based proof. Further problematic, is that "a quick scan through peer-reviewed journals reveals only a handful of articles, and no evidence-based guidelines, to guide doctors on the use of social media."  Basically we have patients getting flawed information and doctors not knowing how to help them at their source.

Still, Dr. Chen points out that social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook -- and AllMed's Peer Point Web site -- can create meaningful support groups for patients and doctors alike.

To read the full article, click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/health/11chen.html?_r=1&ref=health