July 09, 2008
Physician Information on the Web
Just how important is it for physicians to review their online profile? Have you Googled yourself to find out what information is available and how it is presented? Chances are that your patients have done this.
According to the current JAMA, authors Tristan Gorrindo, MD and James E. Groves, MD from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, discuss the domains of personal information available on the Internet and the scope of professional and personal information that is available about physicians and easily available on the World Wide Web. They point out that states routinely publish information about a physician's education, training, board certification, and publications. These Web sites may also include information about disciplinary actions against a physician by a state's licensing and registration authorities.
Personal information is also readily available on the Internet which includes many different types of information, for example, the authors point out that in New York City by searching just a last name, a patient can obtain a physician's home address, home price, and mortgage information. Other information such as martial status can be inferred and for a fee, "digital background checks" can be done which may include date of birth, criminal records, marriage records, bankruptcy records, small claims court filings, and judgments are often available.
"Social network sites are another way patients can find information about physicians. Web sites such as facebook.com and myspace.com are commonly used by college and graduate students. This is particularly relevant for medical students as they enter residency or practice." Information that a physician has posted in his or her social profile account is available for others to review.
The article also points out that "in some cases, there may be slanderous information about a physician on the Web, published in a blog or on a Web page by a vengeful patient, colleague, or ex-lover. Equally vexing, there may be slanderous information published about someone with the same name as an unlucky physician. There may be few clues available to the Web-searching patient that would allow that patient to know that this is not his or her physician."
The authors recommend that physicians should be aware of their Web presence. Regular Web searching for your name should be conducted and that physicians should be mindful that patients want to know about them and have increasingly better tools to unearth such information. It is suggested that 'taking the initiative of creating one's own Web identity through the development of a practice Web page and limiting access to personal information on social Web pages can allow for effective communication with patients while balancing personal information.'
Web Searching for Information About Physicians
Tristan Gorrindo, MD; James E. Groves, MD
JAMA. 2008;300(2):213-215.