MD.com Launches Symptom Checker to Enhance Patient-Doctor Connection
CHERRY HILL, NJ (PRWEB) January 28, 2014 -- MD.com today announces the launch of a Symptom Checker that moves beyond traditional symptom checkers by connecting individuals with local doctors specializing in the conditions identified by the tool. The new product offers more than 135 decision guides for men, women, and children. The product was created by, and is licensed from, Harvard Medical School.
The Symptom Checker is integrated into MD.com’s directory of more than 700,000 customizable doctor websites. The tool guides consumers through a series of questions concerning symptoms they are experiencing, with each click providing increasingly relevant information about potential causes and treatment options. MD.com’s service then picks up where traditional symptom checkers leave off, providing a connection to nearby doctors specializing in disorders associated with the symptoms indicated. Each pathway within the tool concludes with the option to schedule appointments and seek medical advice, where appropriate.
“With the Internet literally putting healthcare at our fingertips, it’s tempting to seek a first opinion from one of the popular search engines. But what’s missing in that search is the ability to connect patients to specialists who can provide answers and care for their specific conditions,” said Ari Goldberger, MD.com CEO. “The Symptom Checker provides patients with potential causes of their symptoms and then automatically identifies doctors who can diagnose and treat them. Our goal is to enhance the patient-doctor experience, and this newest tool from MD.com does just that.”
“People develop new and worrisome symptoms frequently,” said Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff, editor in chief of Harvard Health Publications, a division of Harvard Medical School. “A symptom might reflect a simple problem that can be treated with a home remedy, or it might indicate a potentially serious problem that requires a doctor’s immediate attention. The Symptom Checker interactively helps people sort out what to do.”
To view the Symptom Checker and try the tool yourself, visit http://www.md.com/symptoms.
About MD.com
MD.com empowers and connects individuals with doctors. We offer free, customizable websites at DoctorName.MD.com, where doctors control the information about their professional brand, attract new patients and grow their practices. For consumers, we make it easy to find doctors, explore care options, and learn about health and wellness. To experience MD.com and follow our growth, visit us at http://www.MD.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
About Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health Publications, a division of Harvard Medical School, in conjunction with its strategic partner Belvoir Media Group, provides content about health and complex medical issues in an easy-to-understand, interactive way. With access to the expertise of more than 11,000 faculty physicians from 17 affiliated hospitals, the mission of Harvard Health Publications is to provide consumers with the most comprehensive, authoritative, and trusted health information available.
Brad Shapiro, MD.com, http://www.MD.com, +1 (856) 874-7526, [email protected]
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