A new healthcare Web site called iMedix has just been launched, and it could revolutionize the way people take care of themselves. Or it might gum up the works further; at this point, it’s hard to tell.
But you have to applaud the effort. A privately funded startup launched by Amir Leitersdorf and Iri Amirav, it allows users to search for relevant medical information, share that information with others, form online communities, and rank the helpfulness of the information they find. Think WebMD + Facebook + Wikipedia.
I am not sure that lack of good online medical information is a big problem today. Whenever there’s a condition I want to research, there’s a plethora of literature available instantly. What iMedix adds, of course, is the communal aspect — which, depending on the situation, may result in a valuable transfer of information and experience, or might result in a worldwide web of misinformation and panic. I am very much rooting for the former, and for iMedix to succeed. (Here’s a brief writeup at TechCrunch.) How do you think it will play out?
If you are worried about how iMedix may support itself, you can stop. In its press release, the company is impressively transparent about creating a direct-to-consumer advertising channel: “iMedix will utilize its technology and services to connect pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and medical organizations with highly targeted consumers in the rapidly growing market of online healthcare.” Among all of iMedix’s innovations, this may turn out to be the most potent.
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I think this can be a very good thing if done right. But I am skeptical if it can be. Mixing business and medicine has already produced some very bad results. Only time will tell how this works. Too bad it wont produce more measurable results.
I think this can be a very good thing if done right. But I am skeptical if it can be. Mixing business and medicine has already produced some very bad results. Only time will tell how this works. Too bad it wont produce more measurable results.
Finally a place where my patients can rave about my cure-all snake oil. Step on up and try it for yourself!
Finally a place where my patients can rave about my cure-all snake oil. Step on up and try it for yourself!
They will be competing with Steve Case’s Revolution Health (http://www.revolutionhealth.com) as a consumer community website.
And of course, WebMD is not going to just sit there and lose market share. (are they?)
Competition is good though, and we should see the bar raised regarding health information for consumers.
They will be competing with Steve Case’s Revolution Health (http://www.revolutionhealth.com) as a consumer community website.
And of course, WebMD is not going to just sit there and lose market share. (are they?)
Competition is good though, and we should see the bar raised regarding health information for consumers.
As long as contributions are not anonymous trolls and purveyors of bad information can be quickly identified and their bad contributions deleted.
That said, even when I study up on a topic before I see my doctor, I am always inclined to take their word for it, even when it doesn’t jive with my research. To this day I think my wife’s C-section was unneccesary, but who is going to argue with the presumed expert during a possible emergancy?
As long as contributions are not anonymous trolls and purveyors of bad information can be quickly identified and their bad contributions deleted.
That said, even when I study up on a topic before I see my doctor, I am always inclined to take their word for it, even when it doesn’t jive with my research. To this day I think my wife’s C-section was unneccesary, but who is going to argue with the presumed expert during a possible emergancy?