New Program Has Doctors, Patients Learn Together As Traditional Relationship Changes Forever

BOSTON and NEW YORK, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- In the first program of its kind, physician thought leaders and consumer Health Activists will co-develop video content to educate patients and doctors at the same time. The programs will be produced and distributed by patient opinion leader network WEGO Health and by online physician video channel The Doctor's Channel; funding comes from pharmaceutical and healthcare company sponsorships.

The video programs will feature empowered Health Activist patients and collaborative physicians tackling topics of interest to both. Online health network WEGO Health is comprised of a unique group of patient leaders, called Health Activists, whose visibility and influence in online health communities makes them models of patient empowerment – while The Doctor's Channel's online, engaged physician community is openly seeking a more collaborative relationship with patients.

"Every stakeholder in health care benefits when patients and physicians act as partners," says WEGO Health CEO Jack Barrette. "Doctors gain a responsible partner in care, patients see better outcomes at lower cost, and health care companies see a more active conversation about products and services. It's a natural evolution to have doctors and patients educated together."

Michael Banks, MD, President and co-founder of The Doctor's Channel, agrees "the old 'just do as I say' doctor-patient relationship is gone for good; physicians are learning to welcome educated, empowered patients as part of the care team. That extends to sharing in-depth clinical information with patients who use the internet and online communities to build their knowledge."

The Doctor's Channel and WEGO Health have "several programs in development now, with the first programs focused in oncology," says Banks. The educational programs will be distributed and promoted through special areas of both company's sites, with tools to enable physician and patient sharing of the content through Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.

About The Doctor's Channel

In an age of "media snacking," where people get their information in fragments throughout the day, The Doctor's Channel delivers free expert medical information condensed into 1-2 minute streaming videos as well as CME, Doc Humor for laughs and a Doc Life section that contains videos about art, style, food and travel for when the doctor is not on call. The Doctor's Channel was founded in 2007 by industry veterans David Best, MD MBA and Michael Banks, MD.

The Doctor's Channel is a privately held, privately funded company headquartered in NYC.

For more information, visit www.thedoctorschannel.com.

About WEGO Health

WEGO Health is the home of Health Activists, who are passionate organizers, connectors and contributors in health communities across the web. These leaders meet at WEGO Health to connect with each other, to share opinions, to grow their audience and to speak directly to healthcare companies about the health issues that are most important to them. Founded in 2007 and led by online health pioneers Jack Barrette and Bob Brooks, WEGO Health is a privately held, privately funded company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.wegohealth.com.

Media Contact: Jack Barrette WEGO Health, 617-312-4701, [email protected]

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SOURCE WEGO Health