This is the first commentary of the PHCentral
Editorial Board. Although written by one person, it represents the opinion of the entire
group who are the architects of this site and the driving force of the non-profit
organization, PHCentral, Inc. As we have conceived of it, PHC is the central internet clearing house for information related to Pulmonary Hypertension.
We might be called a cross between an internet portal site and a "newspaper of
record" - the Yahoo and The New York Times of PH.
Regarding "who" we are, you will find answers throughout the
site. The About PHC page gives a short description of
the organization's permanent staff and those whose material appears on
a more occasional basis. The briefest answer, however, is that We are
You: PH patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers.
Because our service is based on the revolutionary technologies of the internet, the
site emphasizes INTERACTION. We are creating both an archive of information and a
system of active and instant response among the PH-people in all the villages of our
little blue marble.
We hope to be comprehensive and up-to-the minute in our presentation of information .
We're fortunate to have in our ranks people with the detective-skills to find even the
most obscure references and the scientific judgement to pick out the gold nuggets in the
buckets of sand.
The "interactive" element of the site means more than message boards and
real-time chats. You may have noticed that on our Main Menu we've got a section called
"FEATURES." That's where we'll put original contributions from YOU, whether
you're a world renowned PH researcher or just one of us regular folks who has a story to
tell.
PHCentral feels a strong
sense of responsibility to present medical issues in their full complexity. While we
exercise editorial judgement over the sources of our information, there are many questions
that simply do not have a scientifically agreed upon answer, even among the small group
who are most learned on the subject. Organizations vary as to how they handle such
disputes Our approach is to present the several opinions of the most reputable
authorities.
This is not to say that our organization has no point of view. We do. Our guiding
principle is that PH patients and those concerned with their care are our
"clients." We are biased on their behalf. As they say in baseball, "the tie
goes to the runner." Guess who is the runner. PHCentral subscribes to a patients' "Bill of
Rights" which places the interests of the patient over those of third party payers,
operators of public accommodations, and the manufacturers of medical products.
Above all, this site belongs to those who use it. Your needs have driven us to create
it. Before we "officially" went online, we invited you to send us your ideas on
a listserv we set up just for your input.
"Hey, don't forget to put in a section on hints for daily living!" "What
about insurance - are you going to get an expert to tell us how to deal with our
HMO?"
Today, we're finally open for business, though the scaffolding is still up, and parts
of the store haven't been furnished, yet. You can continue the dialogue with us on design
and content by dropping a note in the new mailbox info@phcentral.org.
And speaking of unfurnished, if we're an international organization, how come
everything on the site is in English.
JOB POSTING: Translators. All languages needed.
Well, we can only cover a reasonable amount before an editorial is declared a book...
On behalf of the staff of PHCentral,
I welcome you all to our world-wide cyber family.
Armond Aserinsky, Ph.D.
President and Science Editor, PHCentral
July 30, 1999
Editor's note Feb. 28, 2006: Armond is currently a consultant to the board of directors and is the past president and co-founder of PHCentral, Inc.
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PHCentral is committed
to the expression of diverse opinions from members of the PH Community.
We feel strongly that
free and open discussion regarding PH will assist in the generation and the
refinement of new and existing ideas. To that end, we provide the opportunity
for anyone from the medical and patient communities to submit editorials,
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