NEW YORK, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The .md Online Medical Advancement Council today announced the .md Circle of Care initiative and the donation of .md Internet domain packages tailored for individual physicians in the oncology community. This new initiative reinforces the interdisciplinary disease-management of individuals diagnosed with cancer, augmenting the team care approach of oncologists, oncology nurse practitioners and other allied healthcare providers. The technology powered by .md is a critical element that better enables physicians to complete the "circle," surrounding oncologists with interactive tools and solutions that optimize patient care, streamline communication and enhance peer interaction through secure HIPAA- enabled email, both in and out of the .md network.

"Oncology may be the one of the most complex of the clinical areas because there are so many different types of cancers, all with their own diagnostic and treatment protocols, which is why we chose to launch the .md Circle of Care initiative for the oncology community first," said Venkat Gullapalli, MD, Director of the .md Online Medical Advancement Council and Chief Medical Officer for MaxMD. "Additionally, we have plans to expand the .md Circle of Care initiative to include other practice areas that can benefit from improved continuity of care. Our ultimate goal is to foster the growth of online medical education and communication through a forum dedicated to the specific needs of physicians."

The .md Circle of Care initiative provides participating oncologists with simple and secure ways to apply the Internet in their practices, bridging communication gaps and enhancing the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care. Each physician will be enrolled in an ongoing educational program which includes a .md domain name, a professional website, access to clinical information and resources, as well as secure HIPAA-enabled email, (.mdEmail(TM)) that can be easily and securely accessed via any Internet- enabled device. This complimentary offering will serve as the online entry point to an oncology-specific .md Medical Desktop(TM) where participating oncologists will gain access to a wide variety of clinical and professional education resources and practice tools.

The .md Medical Desktop(TM), available this summer, will provide oncologists with important access to the latest scientific and clinical information about drug therapies, evidence-based treatment guidelines, oncology CME programs, customizable medical news and more.

"The .md Internet domain packages combined with the upcoming .md Medical Desktop(TM) empowers oncologists and creates a new dynamic in online communication and collaboration," continued Gullapalli. "By offering oncologists free enrollment, the .md Online Medical Advancement Council is providing participating oncologists with the latest information, clinical resources and communication tools to provide the best care possible."

The oncology community has a unique set of challenges, from managing toxicities and multiple treatment regimens to handling dosing and treatment administration as well as adverse event management. Those directly involved in the care of cancer patients not only address chemotherapy treatments, but must also deal with supportive care issues that arise from such therapies.

Another challenge is the fragmented nature of cancer care. Although the modalities of cancer treatment-chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery-are applied across all cancer diagnoses, how they are applied varies tremendously. Various treatment strategies are used in different countries and geographical areas, resulting in varying levels of consensus among multiple treatment standards. Less populated areas often do not receive the same level of information as those in urban environments. Moreover, patients frequently select physicians or specialists outside their local area, creating a greater need for online communication. Collectively, factors such as these increase the need for a secure online platform where the oncology community can share best practices and communicate securely with peers and patients.

"The .md Circle of Care represents an exciting new platform that brings together the oncology community to share information and collaborate on diagnosis and treatment as well as related topics such as palliative care, support and rehabilitation, clinical data and research," noted .md Online Medical Advancement Council oncologist, Minesh Mehta, MD, professor and chairman for the Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Medical School. "Oncologists have particularly meaningful relationships with patients due to the nature of the care. Frequent and effective communication plays a critical role in the successful delivery of cancer care. Leveraging the Internet provides caregivers with a greater depth of knowledge, and a faster response time regardless of geography or medical affiliation.

For more information about the .md Circle of Care initiative, the .md Medical Desktop, or the .md Online Medical Advancement Council, please visit: http://www.omac.md/, http://www.max.md/ or http://www.medcouncil.md/.

About the .md Online Medical Advancement Council (O.M.A.C.)

O.M.A.C. is an advisory panel comprised of impartial experts, representing leaders in medical academia, online privacy, and the healthcare industry. O.M.A.C. is focused on creating a forum in which to raise relevant issues and spark a dialogue to advance the medical community online. Council members include David. W. Dempster, PhD, Professor of Clinical Pathology, Columbia University; Rebecca Herold, CISSP, CISM, CISA, FLMI, Founder and principal consultant, Rebecca Herold, LLC, Author, The Practical Guide to HIPAA Privacy and Security Compliance; Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Medical School; Michael R. Lemon, MBA, President, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine; Minesh Mehta, MD, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center; Jennifer Spear Smith, MS, PhD, FACME, Acting Executive Director, Professional Education Support, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; and Venkat Gullapalli, MD, Director of the .md Online Medical Advancement Council and Chief Medical Officer for MaxMD. The Council provides online resources for physicians seeking to safely and effectively apply the Internet to enhance patient care and outcomes, communicate securely with peers and continue online education at http://www.omac.md/.

About MaxMD

MaxMD, the official provider of .md domain names, provides personalized, permanent and portable Web addresses for physicians, healthcare providers, medical associations, healthcare corporations, and medical institutions in the only Internet domain dedicated to the medical community. Additional offerings include specialized online clinical resources designed to facilitate and enhance patient management and communication with healthcare providers in new and innovative ways. Visit http://www.max.md/ to learn more.

CONTACT: Charles Leone, +1-212-931-6158, cleone@peppercom.com

Web site: http://www.max.md/
http://www.omac.md/
http://www.medcouncil.md/