This week Within3 announced the pending launch of a network built to serve surgeons in rural areas.  The network is forming in cooperation with the American College of Surgeons.  You can read more about this new social network here.

Why is this important?  Unlike large physician networks, tighter groups of doctors with similar needs and interests are more likely to adopt technology of this type.  And beyond all participants being surgeons, they share the concerns of practice in a rural environment.  They really need one another.  That’s enough value to draw a community.

I’ve always said that doctors seem less inclined to join networks to discuss patients.  But that represents the bias of those of us practicing in major medical centers.  When you’re alone, the ability to connect can be invaluable.

And another variable that may predict success: the network is made up of surgeons.  For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, surgeons seem motivated to socialize.  In Katherine Chretien’s recent Twitter survey in JAMA, surgeons were significantly represented.

I’m hoping that Lance Hill and the folks at Within3 will follow-up.  I’d love to see how this works.

h/t to Brian McGowan (@CMEAdvocate) for sharing.