Sermo Improves Registration Security; Needs to Do More

Sermo.com, a social network for doctors, has quietly changed its registration requirements to better verify the registrants as real doctors. Now, in addition to providing personal, but publicly available regulatory information such as DEA and state license numbers, a physician is expected either to fax to Sermo a copy of current state medical license or copy of hospital or practice ID, or to provide a phone number and name of hospital for Sermo team to call to confirm one’s identity.
We are glad that Sermo has addressed criticisms leveled against it and other similar networks. Assuring that all members participating in discussions are real doctors is important not just for networks themselves (and their members), but also for public health. For example, since Sermo.com is trying to forge a relationship with the FDA, it is imperative on its management team to re-register all of its current members, as there have been reports of trolls infiltrating its website. We don’t know how many trolls exist on these doctor networks, but what we know is that they are there. Anything short of a full new round of registration of the existing members can potentially endanger the public, as trolls (if planted by pharma and device companies, as well as single individuals with evil intent), can influence doctors on the site, and the FDA’s regulatory process in general.
Spokeswoman for the FDA has refused to comment for this story. Medgadget has not contacted Sermo since we’ve been designated blog non grata by the network’s management before.
More: Medgadget’s Guide to Hacking into Social Networks for Doctors …; Confirmed: Sermo Is Not for Physicians Only; New Important Questions Raised …; Sermo’s $9M Weak Security Model …; A Note and a Follow Up On Sermo …