I was just taking a look at the beta from Google, Google Health, which is an application to track your health information in a central location.
According to the FAQ,
Google Health offers a single location to consolidate and store your medical records and personal health information. Saving medical information in one secure location helps you and your doctors have accurate and up-to-date information about your health when you need it the most. This in turn means that your medical treatments may be safer and more effective. You can also use Google Health to access a host of online services and tools, from a variety of third-party companies, that can help you better manage your care.
I have some mixed feelings about this application. I do think that it would be convenient to have all of our medical records in a single location. Google won me over a couple of years ago, and I use three or four of their applications every day. I suppose I have some concern over privacy issues, but I imagine that the online security will be better than our pharmacy. My only concern would be the use of the host of online services and tools.
There’s a whole lot of conflicting information out here on the internet, and I worry about people using these online services to do a bit too much self-diagnosis.
What do you guys think? Do you use any of the online medical applications? Do you tend to self-diagnose?
I’m definitely going to check out Google Health. While I doubt that I would use it myself – I also worry about security issues- I do think it’s an intriguing concept.
Regarding self diagnosis, many of the people I know with lupus self-diagnosed themselves way before a doctor would. I only beat my doctor by three days
I am one of the founders of a small lupus support/advocacy org based in LA county, and we were wondering if you would mind if we linked to this site. I think you offer a much needed perspective in the lupus dialog. I know my husband checks your site from time to time and finds it helpful.
Elyse: Of course you can link here, and I will add flareup.org to my roll as well.
I think that some of the applications that allow people to be proactive with their illnesses are great, as long as it’s not a substitute for seeing a health professional.
I wonder how many others have diagnosed themselves before their doctor did?
I’ve been following your journey for several months and I find you to be inspirational. It is so refreashing to hear about lupus from the perspective of a spouse.
I (finally!) started by own blog. I hope you can stop by and check it out if you get a chance.
http://lupuspie.blogspot.com
Jeff, though I didn’t beat my own doctor to the punch this past winter I did sort of “diagnose” a friend who’d previously been told she didn’t have lupus. This time she made an appointment with an actual rheumatologist (instead of the GP who gave her the brush-off) and got a prompt diagnosis. She’s suffered from depression for many years. Now she wonders how much of that may have had to do with latent auto-immune disease.
Elyse, flaredup.org rocks! LOVE the “Lupus Sucks!” T-shirts, the fightin’ words and the whole ‘tude of your website ;>) .
Wendy