SERMO, a NYC-based global social network for physicians has unveiled their new peer-to-peer “Drug Ratings” tool sourced exclusively from verified licensed physicians. Integrated into the SERMO social network, the Drug Ratings tool gives physicians a clinical decision support tool where they can research, rate, and share their direct experience on the efficacy, safety, tolerability, accessibility, and adherence of specific drugs in real time.
SERMO built the tool after recognizing that the lack of a doctor-only global database of drug reviews– while there are several drug review sites available that gather information from patients. 74 percent of doctors believe drug reviews from other doctors would help inform their prescribing choices, according to a recent SERMO survey of more than 4,500 doctors, conducted before the tool was released to members.
The survey revealed that 83 percent of doctors feel that opinion or feedback of another physician has changed their perception of a drug, and 52 percent feel they do not have all the information they would want about a drug before prescribing. In fact, 80 percent of doctors trust the recommendations of a very large number of real-world doctors with product experience over the recommendations of a very small number of key opinion leaders/academics.
“To date, there have not been networks for physicians to share important information about experiences with the medications prescribed for patients. This new tool offers a large community of physicians’ access to see the subtle issues involved with medications. Ratings will be an invaluable part of physicians’ daily routines. This level of transparency will enhance patient care,” said Dr. Heidi Moawad, a neurologist who participated in the beta testing of the Drug Ratings tool.
Official clinical trial data and product monographs are only half of the story; aggregate real-world experience from peers is the other half. By supplementing manufacturer information with ratings and commentary, physicians gain a deeper look at treatments before they prescribe to support better treatment decisions.
How SERMO’s Drug Rating Tool Works
Utilizing the SERMO social network, physicians can crowdsource patient cases and seek advice from their peers. Drug Ratings takes this collaboration, known as medical crowdsourcing, to a new level by enabling physicians to instantly access their peers’ aggregated personal experiences with drugs.
Doctors can search for drugs by brand name, generic name, as well as branded generic name and compare different drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat an indication. The Drug Ratings tool is particularly valuable for physicians researching new-to-market drugs, as open discussions on how certain drugs have performed in the real world for early adopters can be quickly reviewed, disseminated, and adopted more broadly.
“Drug Ratings by doctors, for doctors is the next big frontier of real-world medicine. We believe it will change the way physicians prescribe drugs because they will have the ability to weigh thousands of peer insights when making treatment decisions. By facilitating a seamless knowledge exchange between global doctors, Drug Ratings leads to improved decision-making and better patient outcomes,” said Peter Kirk, CEO of SERMO in a statement. “Drug Ratings is transparent and democratized medical knowledge from and for doctors around the world. Manufacturers and insurers have been calling the shots when it comes to the evaluation and adoption of drugs in recent decades; Drug Ratings levels the playing field. It gives doctors back their voice in this important discussion. Consumers have Amazon, Yelp or Trip Advisor. Now physicians have peer-to-peer Drug Ratings.”
