WikiScope: A Beneficial Resource?
Written December 27th, 2007 by Thomas AmesIn an effort to make WebiScope an even larger resource for our members, I’ve proposed the idea that we create our own wiki. This would serve as a collection of healthcare-related Web topics ranging from blogs to RFPs, and also include blog-related posts, contact information, and examples from our very own Web sites.
It’s clear that we as healthcare Web professionals have different goals, needs, and uses for the Web. This can depend on whether we’re in charge of an entire system’s Web sites, a world renowned institution, or a community hospital. But we have something in common: we’re in the business of marketing health services and providing medical knowledge to our visitors. This provides us with specific challenges that we all face, such as content integration, accessibility, and the influence of social networking. And for those reasons I believe a WikiScope could be very valuable.
A fair question is whether we can offer anything different than Wikipedia. After all, if I want to learn about blogging, I might very well first go to Wikipedia to see what a blog is. But is that enough for us? Absolutely not. And this is where I believe we can become a truly valuable resource.
The WikiScope, in my mind, would be a comprehensive resource. It would not only define the topic, but also give an overview from our members on what the positives, negatives, and applications of the topic in healthcare. In addition, it would also offer examples of the topic on our members’ Web sites, links to relevant blog and forum posts, and perhaps most importantly, a personal resource to one of our members who would be considered an expert on the subject.
For example, let’s take blogging. “Blog” would be defined, its advantages and shortcomings listed, examples of physician, patient, and CEO blogs, links to this blog’s category “blog-o-sphere,” and then also list one or two resources with e-mail addresses for one-on-one help.
But, as I said before, this would be a task that would obviously be time consuming. But with everyone’s help, I think we could make this into an important resource for healthcare Web professionals, particularly those new to the profession.
Would you use this resource? Would you see it as a benefit? We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Count me in.
My first question: is this a public resource like the webiScope blogs, or a private one like our forums? (I’d guess ‘private’, if we’re going to list contact information.)
Either way, sign me up.
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 am
I’m in. If WikiScope is nearly as useful as webiScope, I’ll use it all the time.
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
I hadn’t really considered whether it would be private or not, but, like you said, I would assume it’d have to be if we’ll list contact information. Not a problem.. more of a reason for people to join in the fun.