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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Well hopefully there’s a bit of moderation. I treated an ingrown nail with the help of the Interwebz. It can work.
Well hopefully there’s a bit of moderation. I treated an ingrown nail with the help of the Interwebz. It can work.
I would also like to see a rating system on the doctors, something like what amazon has. A five star rating system perhaps even very broken down to various aspects of being a doctor. It would also have their curriculm vitae as well as recommendations from peers. Perhaps information on research published. I would like to know how qualified and experienced my doctor is BEFORE he/she touches me.
I would also like to see a rating system on the doctors, something like what amazon has. A five star rating system perhaps even very broken down to various aspects of being a doctor. It would also have their curriculm vitae as well as recommendations from peers. Perhaps information on research published. I would like to know how qualified and experienced my doctor is BEFORE he/she touches me.
Oh, this start-up is treading on dangerous water! iMedix is positioning itself to be a monolithic online support group for whatever ailment you have, without so much the benefit of authoritative guidance and guidelines that dedicated local support groups provide.
While “iMedix enables you to upload your medical and health related content and share it with other users, without revealing your identity,” it collects personally identifiable information ” to provide you with further marketing and advertising material.” I hope the iMedix attorney didn’t write this up. Where is OUR privacy protection?
Which pharmaceutical company won’t use targeted advertisement to get you to buy its most expensive drug? which insurance company won’t want to collect statistics about “your type” and sell you a policy that they can profit from? None of this was convenient (sometimes downright forbidden) until iMedix comes along and invites you to share some harmless information about your background and medical condition. I don’t need to link your iMedix activities to your social security number. All I need is your use pattern on iMedix and I can figure out an awful lot about your habits, your your income bracket, your age and gender and race, and other intimate information about you. THAT is what statisticians can do with the iMedix database.
Oh, this start-up is treading on dangerous water! iMedix is positioning itself to be a monolithic online support group for whatever ailment you have, without so much the benefit of authoritative guidance and guidelines that dedicated local support groups provide.
While “iMedix enables you to upload your medical and health related content and share it with other users, without revealing your identity,” it collects personally identifiable information ” to provide you with further marketing and advertising material.” I hope the iMedix attorney didn’t write this up. Where is OUR privacy protection?
Which pharmaceutical company won’t use targeted advertisement to get you to buy its most expensive drug? which insurance company won’t want to collect statistics about “your type” and sell you a policy that they can profit from? None of this was convenient (sometimes downright forbidden) until iMedix comes along and invites you to share some harmless information about your background and medical condition. I don’t need to link your iMedix activities to your social security number. All I need is your use pattern on iMedix and I can figure out an awful lot about your habits, your your income bracket, your age and gender and race, and other intimate information about you. THAT is what statisticians can do with the iMedix database.
“Community” medicine is a horrible idea.
The very fact that shams like Airborne (invented by a grade-school teacher, it *has* to work!) exist and make millions of dollars, and the fact that a book titled “Natural Cures ‘They’ Don’t Want you to Know About” is a New York Times Bestseller is enough evidence for me to believe that people are completely ignorant about “medicine” and cannot distinguish between anecdotes, cause and effect, the placebo-effect, and evidence-based medicine.
I’m willing to forgive people’s stupidity in a lot of things, but when we deal with “medicine”, people’s lives are at stake.
“Community” medicine is a horrible idea.
The very fact that shams like Airborne (invented by a grade-school teacher, it *has* to work!) exist and make millions of dollars, and the fact that a book titled “Natural Cures ‘They’ Don’t Want you to Know About” is a New York Times Bestseller is enough evidence for me to believe that people are completely ignorant about “medicine” and cannot distinguish between anecdotes, cause and effect, the placebo-effect, and evidence-based medicine.
I’m willing to forgive people’s stupidity in a lot of things, but when we deal with “medicine”, people’s lives are at stake.