05/23 /// 8 Apps Every Writer Should Have
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
Out of my Gord - By Gord Hotchkiss
GrokDotCom - By Brian Eisenberg
Link Building Best Practices Blog
SEM Hints: Search Engine Marketing Hints, Tips & Tools For Online Businesses
Search Engine Land - by Danny Sullivan
Virtual Marketing Blog: Internet Marketing News, Reviews and Insights
SEMPO Global Search Marketing Blog
SEMPO Canada Search Marketing Blog
/// Posted by Alexandre Brabant on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Searching for Healthcare: How Online Communities are Changing the Face of Medicine
From: searchenginewatch.com
The New York Times has a great article about using the internet for information on medical conditions, including how search is involved in the process. As you know, results can change just by adding a keyword to the phrase you’re already searching for.
Search for a condition and add the word community, for example, and you suddenly have access to patients dealing with the same issues, according to Susannah Fox of the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
I can personally attest to the power of the internet, especially the ability to communicate and share experiences with other patients. When I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in 2003, the internet became the authority on my care. Because the cancer affects so few people, doctors with little experience in seeing patients with thyroid cancer can be misinformed on how to treat it.
Thankfully, I found an online community that helped me through every step of the process. I was able to find doctors that knew thyroid cancer and could adequately treat me. My experience greatly improved as the result of “meeting” other patients. (I did, also, eventually meet several in person as well.)
As much as social networking can sometimes get a bad rap for being an untamed jungle of wild party pictures and obscene comments, we can’t forget the power of online communities and their role in so many important aspects of daily life. From jobs to cancer treatment, social networking is impacting lives. And that’s something to feel good about - and get involved in.
Is your company there yet? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Reading:
Microsoft Secures Search Ad Partnership with Rodale’s Health Sites
Yahoo Says Searchers are Better Patients
Net Attracts Health-Seeking Surfers
Majority of Online Health-Related Queries Start on Search Engines
Read Original: http://feeds.searchenginewatch.com/~r/sewblog/~3/407408652/080930-114841
Comments
