title: Development of an obstetric medicine email discussion list.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Clinical Forum on the North American Society of Obstetric Medicine (NASOM) website was underutilized. From 2006 to 2007 there were 16 Clinical Forum posts with 12 responses, and none were added after 2007. This report describes the development of an email discussion list using an information 'push' format to facilitate discussion among Obstetric Medicine physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  An email list of North American and International SOM members was compiled and distributed. Email list usage was tallied and a survey was sent to list members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The email discussion list had 18 discussions in the first year with 79 responses, and membership grew from 96 to 209 members from five continents. There have been 44 discussion topics over three years. Common topics related to haematology, thrombosis and cardiac issues. Ninety-one percent felt that the list improved communication among members.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequent usage, large number of responses and survey results suggest that the email list successfully improved communication among SOM members.
authors: Department of Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, 1945 Rt 33 Ackerman 3rd Floor, Neptune, NJ 07753; UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Carson
keywords: general medicine; high-risk pregnancy; maternal–fetal medicine