Background/Purpose: Expert opinion is valuable in clinical rheumatology practice, especially given the rapid expansion of medical information and limitations of existing data to guide evidence-based medical decision making. However, organized, effective, and accurate platforms for exchange of knowledge among physicians are often lacking. TheMednet is an electronic portal that allows for dissemination of expert knowledge and opinions in a searchable, private, and moderated question and answer format. Originally established in Oncology in 2014, involving over 12,000 US oncologists, we sought to establish the feasibility of this platform among rheumatologists.

Methods: TheMednet was piloted in Rheumatology starting in July 2020. Questions were posted by registered rheumatologists via an ‘Ask Question’ button. Questions were then reviewed and revised by a team of physician editors and sent to appropriate content experts in Rheumatology. Expert responses were reviewed for accuracy. Rheumatologist engagement was measured in question and citation clicks, logins, and searches.

Results: From 7/2020 to 5/2021, 837 rheumatologists registered to theMednet (35% academic physicians, 58% community physicians, and 7% rheumatology fellows) from 87 institutions. Three hundred and fifteen questions were asked (Figure 1). Two-hundred and fifty-nine questions were approved by a team of editors, and 234 questions were answered by 103 experts (80% academic practice, 20% community practice). Expert geographic locations are detailed in Figure 2. Expert answers included 210 citations to published literature. The most common question topics by the number of views included rheumatoid arthritis (20%), vasculitis (20%), systemic lupus erythematosus (16%), general rheumatology (16%), and myositis (6%). Top 10 most viewed questions are shown in Figure 3. Approximately 45% of registered rheumatologists were active each month. Over 24,000 question and answer views have been registered to date.

Conclusion: TheMednet is becoming a widely used and effective platform for academic and community rheumatologists to engage in an online network, providing insight on clinical practice and exchanging viewpoints on difficult management decisions. Future initiatives include expansion of the platform to enable exchange of information between rheumatologists and other specialists such as dermatologists, pulmonologists, and ophthalmologists who share in the management of patients with complex, multi-system rheumatic diseases.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/experience-from-themednet-online-rheumatology-physician-social-network/