“And whatever you do, do not Google this.” I had just gotten the results back from my regular skin exam, and thankfully, the test came back negative for skin cancer. As an olive-skinned, Latina woman, I had always been told that my risk for skin cancer was low. But the latest research demonstrates that “Dark Skin [Offers] No Shield From Deadly Skin Cancer.” I was right to be concerned about those “atypical” looking moles that I had always looked twice at.
Rather than send me home uniformed and lost in the sea of Google, my provider me with accurate, curated information. While I love the fact that I can type anything into Google’s search box and open up a virtual door of information, not everything on the internet is true. Specifically, there is a significant need for factual, trustworthy health information. Even as a health care provider who should be knowledgeable about a variety of health topics, I often come across conflicting information and struggle to determine which source is the most current, and hence the most accurate. I also find that a Google search of common conditions like skin cancer, can bring up an overwhelming number of results. Rather than sift through the thousands of articles presented to me in a fit of information overload, I’m more likely to click on an article presented on the first page of Google. And while this may be the most popular article on the topic, it does not necessarily reflect the most accurate or trustworthy information.
Recently I was introduced to MedCircle, a health education network that provides curated information about a variety of health topics. After doing some research on the site, I felt comfortable browsing a few topics to learn how I can better manage and maintain my health. For once, I avoided Google for information on my condition. Instead, I searched MedCircle for information on sun protection (including sunscreen), skin cancer warning signs, and how to protect myself from skin cancer. The topics were easy to find, the results were not overwhelming, and the information was accurate and trustworthy.
MedCircle
MedCircle is a digital networking platform designed to connect Health Care Providers and patients who are interested in specific health topics. As the first digital network for health care education, patients and consumers no longer have to rely on un-vetted searches for information to help them make sense of their health concerns. As a patient and a health care provider, I appreciate the fact that MedCircle was created by health care professionals and technologists to give consumers access to information they can trust. In addition to finding (and/or following) information on specific topics, consumers can follow health care providers and organizations.
https://youtu.be/a5cxQbobvw0
How Does MedCircle Work
Using a private, secure platform, MedCircle brings consumers and health care providers together in one place to search for and share relevant health information. Anyone can sign up for a free account and then begin searching, following, and sharing information on pertinent health topics.
- Sign up for a free account (it takes just a few minutes and requires some brief but minimal information)
- Select health topics that matter to you. Diabetes, insomnia, migraines and acupuncture are just some of the topics you can find relevant information on.
- Choose participating health care providers to receive health information from, if desired.
- Search for local health resources such as health care providers, hospitals and special medical services.
- Share health information with friends and family members privately.
Current, Accurate Health Information
The information found on MedCircle includes curated third-party and original content such as academic research, news articles, infographics, and videos. The content is always current and verified by experts before appearing on MedCircle, making it the first place I now want to search for pertinent health information. I also appreciate the fact that providers can create original content to share within their circle of patients, offering a more personalized experience.
MedCircle offers consumers a unique, private, personalized way to receive trustworthy health information. The goal is to empower patients to take control over their own health by equipping them with pertinent resources.
Visit MedCircle to begin taking control of your health. You can also access health information via the MedCircle app, available for iOS and Android devices.
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This is great info! Although I’m no longer in the field, I used to work as an exercise physiologist. I would cringe almost every day at some of the health and exercise advice that patients were following, that they learned from googling or from someone on Instagram with no health background or training. I love MedCircle’s mission!