Monday, March 28, 2011

As we all now Web MD the web site is a site where common people can receive information regarding health care. One of the main concern is will the internet change the way of medicine. Will the doctor patients practice go back into the early 1800’s when the doctor visit the patients at home. According to Dr. Paolo Zamboni he believe that some patients who share their information online through email, social networking, and discussion boards are “in some case altering the research agenda in fields such as cancer, with alternative medicine and multiple sclerosis” (Branswell, 2010, Para 5). The internet health care has changed the way patients think about their symptoms and the medicine they take.
Most drug use for cancer patients needs to be tested first by using experimental drug or therapies. So science can make sure they are save and useful to each patient (Branswell 2010, Para 6). One drug that might work for one patient with the same diagnose may not work on another patient. Patients use the internet to become more informed of their health and or conditions. This “access to health care information has changed how we think about our symptoms and the way we think about medicine”(Warner, 2010 Para 2).
There has been many programs like My Health info and Google Health. Site like this help people save trips to the hospital, because they can track their blood pressure or cholesterol over time. The iphone or the iphone stethoscope has over 3,000 applications that deals with health (Warner, 2010 Para 1). Where a patient can mange his or her medical history and Medications. We could connect a site to Web MD that would change the health care industry forever. Find top physician in their operating field. That willing to be online doctors were they consult with their patience. Even psychologist can prosper from online patients care. Cutting waiting room times, because the doctors will talk to their patients online. Like an home health care over the internet.
Why it could work
 Live highly recommend physician and psychologist could have live but private chat rooms.
 Doctor patient access to record keeping
 Doctor can view a chart of patient without being present and give them feed back, and what their best options could be.
 especially for someone planning for surgeries online they can find the best physician possible
 Get two to three opinion from physician in on day or hour.
 See feedback of doctor other patients
 Big for psychologist who can charge patients per chat.
 Can open a stream line of doctor over the world.
 Are some doctor doing this already?
 Future of medicine surgery over the internet. Will it add or cut cost of Medicare.
 How this can help solve our health care problems
If have any feed back on how this can help our heath care problem in the worl feel free to express your thoughts and feelings.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Can you be a Cyberchondriac?

During our class presentation last week most of the class argued that they would not self diagnose over the Internet because of the great amounts of serious conditions that can come up. The majority felt more comfortable going to a physicians for answers and felt that it was a smarter choice. A recent study showed that 8 of 10 Internet users were using the Internet to answer health related questions and that many of them were searching websites to find people with the same conditions as them.
I don't know if any of you heard about Tim Stauffer a baseball player from the San Diego Padres who diagnosed himself with appendicitis on his iPhone. He typed in his symptoms on his Web Md app and after hours of pain he decided to go to the hospital where later on that day had his appendix removed. To Stauffer his Web MD app who he rarely uses was a life saver but unfortunately for others the search results that come up in sites such as Web Md or Mayo Clinic are not correct and can lead the individual to become stressed and believe everything they read about the condition they were given. My question is when do you know that you are using the health information you found constructively and when do you realize you have crossed the line? I know many of us have used the Internet to self diagnose but how many actually believe that they have that condition and start getting paranoid? As mentioned earlier in last weeks blog a cyberchondriac is someone who relies on the Internet to self diagnose medical conditions.
So how do you know if your a cyberchondriac?
There are four signs that can let you know.
Do you go visit medical websites to get relief from anxiety?
Does the time spent surfing the Internet for health symptoms interfere with your life?
Do you look for reassurance in chat rooms or social networks?
Do you consistently visit your doctor because you think you have all these medical conditions?

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Are you a Cyberchondriac?

The rising cost of healthcare and convenience of the internet have led many people to depend on information found on medical websites. While I find it to be a positive proactive approach to monitoring one's own health, it can also be detrimental if the information is misused. The term cyberchondriac is described as a person who relies on the internet to self-diagnose medical conditions. In most cases, cyberchondriacs become obsessed with the symptoms and possible medical conditions listed. The anxiety and stress exacerbates the initial symptoms, hence contributing to a dominoe effect and constant cycle of google searches.

Medical websites are great tools when used to supplement regular doctor's visits. A physician can help to clarify the findings and provide a concrete answer that websites may not provide. Does the convenience of the internet outweigh the expertise of a trained physician? We'd love to hear your thoughts.