Internet the most trusted healthcare information source for doctors and seekers
People are hurrying internet seeking health information. Even doctors suggest Googling for a cure. Internet and Google (search engines) open a much wider horizon to doctors and health care info seekers. If you’re diagnosed as a case of dimorphic anaemia, you’ll get A to Z of dimorphic anaemia by searching medical websites. Similar is the case with millions who are ready to spend hours browsing online for getting medical information, pertaining to any medical condition. Medical experts can rely and use search engines authentically, British Medical Journal have urged doctors to use Google to help diagnose rare illness in the patients. Research has shown that more and more consumers are going online for health information, by poll results, 75% of 800 consumers surveyed feel the Internet is their most trusted source for health information. The study also found that 54% of online consumers favor general health Web sites and 37% support ailment-focused sites and 4% look over pharmaceutical company sites. A recent random telephone survey conducted by an Internet research firm, Cyber Dialogue, indicated that more than 22 million U.S. adults use the Internet to access health information. What this shows is the dominance of internet-healthcare industry. This adoption of the Internet by patients (or just info seekers) and their attitudes in relying internet, unveils internet’s role in healthcare delivery.
Benefits of accessing healthcare market via Internet marketing
We know consumers looking for health information turn to search engines and search engine such as Google are becoming the latest tools in clinical medicine. Most people today do all of their shopping online and this includes shopping for things like hospitals, dentists, cosmetic surgeons or even for hair transplantation cures. Yes they will use the most trusted medium to find out a plastic surgeon or a chiropractor in their geo locations. And the sole aim of a physician or hospital is to serve higher number of patients in their vicinity. Internet marketing and search engines are nourishing elements in this symbiotic relation that concretes the multi-million dollar online health care industry. In effect internet is hosting a technological revolution that has redefined the way business is conducted in many industries, especially medical services. This is an excellent medium to provide following choices to online healthcare industry:
• Ideal for organizing and accessing large quantities of medical information
• Real time communication between patients (online consultation)
• To sell goods and services
• To facilitate transactions between patients, providers, payers and suppliers.
• Potential cost reduction and
• Can improve the quality of health care industry
The internet Heath-care industry boils down to following four segments:
1. Content based websites: provides health and disease information and facilitate online communities (Healthcare Media Companies & Online Health Properties)
2. Commerce: sells pharmaceuticals and medical supplies (Pharmaceutical & Medical Equipment Companies)
3. Connectivity: offers electronic linking services such as claims processing, authorizations, and electronic prescriptions (Healthcare Insurance & Health Maintenance Organization (HMO))
4. Care: manage, monitor and deliver medical care (Physicians & Hospitals)
Since the internet may provide access to a large healthcare market, going online with the strong back-up of an established internet marketing company leverages your healthcare service to reach comfortable realms.
Asha