Elsevier launch health information Wiki

Scientific and medical information giant Elsevier, has announced the beta launch of WiserWiki, a medial wiki open to contributions from board-certified physicians.

Open to the viewing public and free to use, WiserWiki sources its content from one of Elsevier’s leading medical journals, The Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, an out of print title. However, Elsevier say they want the wiki to maintain a high level of relevancy and trustworthiness. This will be achieved by ensuring that editorial privileges remain restricted to only specific certified medical professionals

Dr. Noble, author of the original title said, “WiserWiki provides exposure for physicians who wish to publish relevant, up-to-date and insightful medical content based on personal experience and expertise.”

Elsevier aim to encourage collaboration and information sharing on the site by allowing users to adopt an “attribution share-alike’ license, this permits users to build upon others work as long as adequate credit is given and identical terms of licenses adhered to. Contributors to the medical information wiki will also be able to retain the copyright to any information they add.

Scott Virkler, vice president, business development said, “There’s a lot we can test and learn from WiserWiki,’. ‘A majority of healthcare wikis aren’t fully trusted by users, and attempts to create new wiki communities are hindered by the inability to create a critical mass of information.