The Internet The Internet andand

Dermatology Dermatology Steven D. Emmet M.D.Clinical Prof (vol) Dermatology UCSDFellow Jikei Univ. Tokyo JapanProud Member of the IADVL

Benefits of the Internet:Benefits of the Internet:

Confer with colleagues individuallyConfer with colleagues individually Access to advice from groups of Access to advice from groups of

dermatologists around the worlddermatologists around the world Access to journal articles, textbooks and Access to journal articles, textbooks and

images of diseasesimages of diseases Access to drug dosages, interactions, side Access to drug dosages, interactions, side

effects and safety in pregnancy and patients effects and safety in pregnancy and patients with other medical conditions with other medical conditions

Information for patientsInformation for patients

ColleaguesColleagues

Instead of just calling you can e-mail Instead of just calling you can e-mail colleagues lab results, and clinical and colleagues lab results, and clinical and microscopic digital imagesmicroscopic digital images

Large images and articles can be Large images and articles can be exchanged by sending them:exchanged by sending them:

a)a) yousendit.comyousendit.comb)b) wetransfer.comwetransfer.comc)c) sugarsync.comsugarsync.comd)d) others others … …

The CloudThe Cloud

““The Cloud” doesn’t exist! It is merely a group of other computers that you The Cloud” doesn’t exist! It is merely a group of other computers that you connect to via the Internet.connect to via the Internet.

Advantages:Advantages:a)a) You can often store multiple gigabytes of data for free or inexpensively, for your own or You can often store multiple gigabytes of data for free or inexpensively, for your own or

your colleagues retrieval from any place and at any time. Check out Microsoft, Dropbox, your colleagues retrieval from any place and at any time. Check out Microsoft, Dropbox, Syncplicity, Egnyte, Sharefile, Google Drive, LiveMesh, SugarSync, BoxNet, LiveOak and Syncplicity, Egnyte, Sharefile, Google Drive, LiveMesh, SugarSync, BoxNet, LiveOak and moremore

b)b) The data can be encrypted and password protectedThe data can be encrypted and password protected

Disadvantages:Disadvantages:a)a) When the ‘net’ connection, either yours or their server, is down, there is no access to this When the ‘net’ connection, either yours or their server, is down, there is no access to this

informationinformationb)b) The server (“cloud”) owner almost always has a “back door” to the encryption software, The server (“cloud”) owner almost always has a “back door” to the encryption software,

so your (and your patients’) information may not be privateso your (and your patients’) information may not be privatec)c) Count on their computer being hacked and your information available to ‘pirates’ and/or Count on their computer being hacked and your information available to ‘pirates’ and/or

being destroyed by the hackers. It is not : “if” it is .. ‘when”.being destroyed by the hackers. It is not : “if” it is .. ‘when”.

Internet Sites and AppsInternet Sites and Apps

Rather than populate this slide with a 30 or so useful internet sites I’ll make Rather than populate this slide with a 30 or so useful internet sites I’ll make a “doc” file available and you will be able to get a copy from the a “doc” file available and you will be able to get a copy from the Moderator.Moderator.

There are several “apps” available from the Internet, for both Apple and There are several “apps” available from the Internet, for both Apple and Android units that I find quite useful:Android units that I find quite useful:a) Epocratesa) Epocratesb) Medscapeb) Medscapec) Medical magazines – NEJM, Jama etcc) Medical magazines – NEJM, Jama etc

The Real Advantage of the The Real Advantage of the Internet!Internet!

When you have a tough case do you:When you have a tough case do you:

a) call a colleague?a) call a colleague?

b) take them to the University Program?b) take them to the University Program?

c) take them to a local, regional or national c) take them to a local, regional or national meeting? meeting?

How about receiving assistance from:How about receiving assistance from:

HERE!HERE!

E-Mail ListsE-Mail Lists

There are a number of E-Mail lists available There are a number of E-Mail lists available to you (details on the next slide) but by to you (details on the next slide) but by posting your questions and digital photos to posting your questions and digital photos to these lists you’ll have answers, within these lists you’ll have answers, within hours, from some of the most hours, from some of the most knowledgeable folks in the world, many knowledgeable folks in the world, many who have written the articles and textbooks who have written the articles and textbooks you have come to rely on. you have come to rely on.

Rx-Derm + IADVLRx-Derm + IADVL Most of these suggestions came from the 1600+ members of the E-Most of these suggestions came from the 1600+ members of the E-

Mail groups “Rx-Derm” started by Art Huntley MD, Prof. of Derm Mail groups “Rx-Derm” started by Art Huntley MD, Prof. of Derm UC Davis and the excellent members of the IADVL list, started by UC Davis and the excellent members of the IADVL list, started by Koushik Lahiri MDKoushik Lahiri MD

Any dermatologist who is a member of the IADVL can join that list by Any dermatologist who is a member of the IADVL can join that list by supplying their IADVL # to P Narasimha Rao MD, Honorary General supplying their IADVL # to P Narasimha Rao MD, Honorary General Secretary of IADVL at Secretary of IADVL at secretaryiadvl@ymail.comsecretaryiadvl@ymail.com

All dermatologists from anywhere in the world can join the Rx-Derm All dermatologists from anywhere in the world can join the Rx-Derm list by sending Doctor Pam an e-mail telling her where you trained and list by sending Doctor Pam an e-mail telling her where you trained and what year you finished your derm training: doctorpam7@gmail.comwhat year you finished your derm training: doctorpam7@gmail.com

There is also a list Derm-Chat, which is also restricted to There is also a list Derm-Chat, which is also restricted to dermatologists but is for everything (I mean everything!) non dermatologists but is for everything (I mean everything!) non dermatological, such as travel, cameras, politics etc – sign up is the dermatological, such as travel, cameras, politics etc – sign up is the same as for Rx-Dermsame as for Rx-Derm