Fam-Med List Etiquette:

This list focuses on the use of information technology in family practice.  The majority of our subscribers are primary care providers in practices from around the world.  Given the nature of our subscribers it is important that messages on the list respect the list's objectives and the other subscribers' time.  When replying to a message, we ask that you include only the portion of the message necessary to convey the original idea.  Please avoid sending copies of long messages to the list when short ones will do.

N.B.: Now that you belong to a discussion list, please be careful when replying to your mail.  A message that appears to be personal may not be or may have the address of a discussion list in the cc: field.  If you are not careful, you may wind up sending a private message to 1000 people!  Be sure to check the cc: field.  You may be sorry if you don't.

When making sending messages to Fam-Med, please adhere to the following rules:

For Website announcements:

They should be healthcare related

Keep then to about 50 lines or less

Send "Reminder" or "Update" announcements:

   Only if there has been a significant change

   Limited to 25 lines or less

   No more frequently than once a month

For conference announcements or RFP's:

They should be medical information technology related

Keep then to about 50 lines or less

Give the dates, location and cost of the conference

Give a URL or where to write for more info

For product announcements:

Keep then to about 25 lines or less

Leave out advertising hype

Declare whether or not you have a financial interest in the product

Give a URL or where to write for more info

For product endorsements:

Keep it to about 50 or so lines

Declare whether or not you have a financial interest in the product

For surveys:

Let the list-owner review a survey first

Be sure to include your e-mail in your .sig (some mailers actually strip the "from" line!).

Be sure to request that subscribers reply *directly* to you.

Offer to post a summary of results to the list by way of thanks for using the list for your survey.

For requests for information

Keep it to about 25 lines or so

Be sure that it focuses on information technology in Family Practice

If you feel the topic is of general interest:

   Ask for public replies

   Say you will post a summary of any replies you receive in private

      Some time later, post your summary to the list.

If you the topic would interest only a small subset of the group

   Ask for private replies

   Say you will send a summary to any interested parties

   You may wish to announce the availability of the summary on the list.

I have seen valuable resources go unannounced because the creators were afraid of violating list etiquette (I for one am guilty of this).  Consequently we never hear of the potentially useful product.  If you have any questions as to the appropriateness of a message, please consult with the list owner prior to posting it.

We require that all subscribers adhere to these guidelines.  Members who stray from accepted list etiquette are assumed to have made an honest mistake and will be reminded discreetly.  Members who continue to ignore list etiquette, lose their posting priviledges and will be required to submit their messages for approval prior to its appearance on the list.

Having said all this, probably the most important things to remember are:

Enjoy the list
Enjoy each other
Be gentle if another goofs
Lets use Fam-Med to empower each other.

Paul Kleeberg, M.D.              O   o          paul@fpen.org
Family Physicians' E-Net        -+---+-   Voice: 612-840-3744
5025 Mulcare Drive               |_o_|      Family Practice &
Columbia Heights, MN 55421 USA  / \|/ \  Information Services