Establishing a Medical Knowledge Extranet to Enhance Medical Communications

Abstract

The exchange of knowledge within an organization is critical in order for the organization to operate efficiently and effectively. However, establishing a knowledge management program can be difficult because of the magnitude of the project, the complexity of the organization, and information hoarding. This article describes a knowledge management effort using a Web-based, extranet site to facilitate information sharing between a medical information department and a regionally-based clinical liaison group. The site contains a wide variety of information including medical information summaries, medical presentations, publication plans, medical meeting calendars, and other administrative tools. The article reviews the rationale for pursuing the project, assessment of the need, content considerations, implementation tips, the need for site maintenance, and monitoring site usage.