New Social Networking Site Exclusively for Doctors

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. optimum (adj.) [op-tuh-muhm] – the best; most favorable or has the most advantage

Example: They are looking for the optimum solution for the decreasing product sales.

2. obstacle (n.) [ob-stuh-kuhl] – one that prevents or stands in the way of doing something

Example: The doctor faced many obstacles in finding a cure for the patient’s complicated illness.

3. privacy (n.) [prahy-vuh-see] – the condition of being kept a secret and not publicly expressed

Example:  People who want to keep their privacy do not share personal information online.

4. forum (n.) [fawr-uhm, fohr-uhm] – a meeting for a discussion of a certain topic

Example: The lawyer attended a forum for the proposal of a new educational law.

5. verification (n.) [ver-uh-fi-key-shuhn] – the act of finding out if something is true or correct

Example: An ID is needed for verification of identity of the employees in the company.

Article
Read the text below.

A social networking site called Doximity helps doctors from across the United States to communicate and discuss their patients’ cases, and find the optimum treatment for them. Jeff Tangney, founder of Doximity, says that simple communication is one of the biggest problems in healthcare. In fact, miscommunication is one of the leading causes of medical errors.   In the United States, doctors are prohibited by law to discuss cases through email and text messaging in order to protect the privacy and security of patient’s medical information.  Doximity aims to overcome this obstacle. It is the first online forum that follows the security measures set by the law. Through this forum, doctors can discuss difficult cases and get the opinion of their peers. Since October 2010, more than 80,000 doctors have joined the networking site and 10,000 cases have already been solved. To ensure that only certified doctors join the forum, they will first undergo a verification process, which may take about a week. Upon approval of request to join, doctors can upload documents that show what medical cases they specialize on.   These documents—including doctor’s resume, publications, training and lectures—make it possible for other doctors to find the best person to consult for certain medical cases.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Why do you think US laws protect the privacy of patient’s medical information?

·         Should patient’s privacy be kept even among doctors? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What do you think are the advantages of allowing doctors to discuss medical cases with each other?

·         If you were a doctor, will you join a website like Doximity? Why or why not?