According to recent survey data published by IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, just about half of medical professionals have consulted Wikipedia, an online reference material that is sourced and edited by users without any formal credential checking. With more and more millennials consulting their online physicians before actually consulting a physical medical professional, the importance of accuracy and availability of information has never been more prevalent. But should it also be a little troubling that educated, paid medical professionals also consult online works of questionable veracity and accuracy when making suggestions to patients? The responses to the information in the study have been mixed, but at least one medical school in California has taken an embracing and proactive approach by having fourth year medical students monitor and edit information available through Wikipedia and other online sources.
To read CBS’s coverage, click here.