Forums centered around medical issues

Hi Folks,

I'm a stutter and have owned stutterschat.com for quite some time. I've always wanted to setup a forum there but just haven't had the time to put into it. Plus the ones I've found have been pretty dead. I was wondering who else runs forums centering around medical issues and if they have any pearls of wisdom to share before I start?

I know Doc (@djbaxter) operates in the niche. I was gonna drop him a line but figured it would be better as a public thread so others can learn too.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Know and enforce your HIPPA laws. Nothing is more important to the success of a medical issues discussion forum than safeguarding the privacy of your membership.

 

Could you combine it with other medical issues ( possibly related or in a similar area) to have a wider membership?

Are there any help groups that you can link with, to promote discussions between other sites to increase interest.

Maybe you can prepare, by having permission to post articles by some of the leading specialists in this field, ready to open with.

If you can hit the decks running it should help to promote interest.

Lots of ideas and potential contacts here: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...source=hp&gws_rd=cr&ei=VRc1UvK9JOfNiAfunICwBg

 

HIPAA laws wouldn't apply to something like this, but I agree that user privacy should be protected.

 

Yeah, I am also not sure what you mean with this. People posting on an open forum want their issues and problems made public. That is what forums are for. If you mean personal data, then this is interesting stuff.

The only other concern I can think of, is to make sure it is clear to your users that any of the advice given in the forum should be taken at their own risk and that it doesn't replace professional doctors or counseling.

Scott

 

From practical experience I can tell you that is really good advice especially where mental health issues are concerned.

 

"Medical forum" led me to believe there would be licensed medical professionals giving medical advice.
Perhaps I misunderstood the intent of the forum.

 

Thanks guys great advice! I agree HIPPA doesn't apply but there will be clear delineations between public vs private forums.

Basically peer to peer support centered around a medical issue is what I meant.