Technology is changing the way people are treated for health related issues. According to the video, increasing numbers of individuals seek online consultation through health-related sites. With an estimated 6000 health and medical applications, people may obtain information more quickly and efficiently. Although these sites provide specific health information, they are not intended to offer any diagnosis. Many people fail to realize that these sites are offered without the benefit of information that we usually get during a f2f encounter or through a physical examination, so some important information may be missing. By using the internet as a supplement to the patient-physican relationship, we may be at an increased risk of misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment due to the absence of more complete information obtained through a physical exam.
Health-related online sites offer a wide range of information and services that are used by patients and/or the public with frequency. While there may be great hope that the Internet can become a reliable resource for health-related matters, currently it is largely unregulated. I would use caution when obtaining specific health information online. The information could easily be outdated, incomplete, inaccurate and unreliable. Therefore, for those who choose to use online-health sites, be sure to evaluate sources and stick to websites and organizations that are well-known and credible. For me, I much prefer the advice of my physician.
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