On-line Diagnosis
When you're sick or have medical problem, most people head to the doctor's office to get a diagnosis.
Well, now you don't even have to leave the comforts of your home.
You can go on-line and diagnosis YOURSELF.
Doctor Kim Mulvihill has more on today's Healthbeat...
Millions of people go online everyday to get health information.
Use a search engine to find out about headaches.. and you might get a million links.. and an even bigger headache.
Well now there's a new website desgined to streamline the process.. it's called EASYDIAGNOSIS.COM.
It's an interactive system.
The user picks one physical complaint then answers a series of 20 to 25 questions related specifically to that symptom.
Based on your responses.. the system lists the possible diagnoses.. ranked in order of probability.
The site focuses on common problems.. not rare diseases.. including the symptoms that account for most visits to the doctor or emergency room.. such as chest pain.. constipation... fainting.
For ten dollars you get two week pass to check out what ails you.
Spend 25 dollars.. and you get access for a year.
So is it worth the money?
The site is meant to be education.. and it is.. but it's NOT a substitute for your physician.
Doctors spend years learning the art of medical diagnosis.. to carefully evaluate a patient's symptoms.. physical exam.. and lab studies.
How to narrow the field of possibilities down to the correct diagnosis.. A crucial step in providing good medical care?
However.. easy diagnosis is not about delivering medical care.. but rather delivering information.
In fact, the website is plastered with disclaimers.. and strong warning s about the importance of getting an exam.
Kim Mulvihill, M.D./Eyewitness News - THE BOTTOM LINE? IT'S AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION.. HOWEVER.. IT'S NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR YOUR DOCTOR OR EVEN A SUBSTITUTE FOR CALLING TO SEE IF YOU NEED TO BE SEEN.
Also, when it comes to making a diagnosis, what a patient DOESN'T say can often be just as important as what they DO say.
That's why the American Medical Association says online interaction should be reserved for situations where a doctor-patient relationship already exists.
