Many claim to have coined the term “information therapy”.  The fact is that information “therapy” has been practiced by providers for decades, without their really knowing it.  When each of us visits our doctors, we receive information – even if we don’t remember 90% of what we are told.  Historically, physicians provided verbal information to patients and families about diagnosis, condition and treatments.  They would usually supplement that with drawings, pictures or other visual aids.  Over time those became more sophisticated, along with printing techniques.  Patients now receive handouts, folders, brochures, booklets, pamphlets, even books about their medical problems.  In the modern age, we have moved to videos, CDs and DVDs as well.

The advent of the web and broad internet access has allowed all to research medical information at will via their home computer links and networks.  The positive news is that medical information is generally considered to be the most commonly searched for data according to most browsers (second only to adult content).  However, with the demographics of the population favoring older individuals (75 million + baby boomers turn 50 between 1996-2014) the medical topics are likely to win out over time (and hormones!). Many sites have catered to the public demand for information by allowing open access (direct to consumer) models.  To be sure some are quite good and well referenced with medical advisors and the like.  Others are unilateral visions, which may or may not be balanced.  Many are simply reproduced basics with little insight for active seekers of medical information.

Among a number of newer available options, one of the more notable advances has been the use of “informed therapy” as championed by NorthPoint Domain (a division of IC Sciences). This Boston based company focuses on custom content, highly researched and documented, updated frequently by panels of medical experts supplemened with illustrations, charts, renderings and other media.  They differ in approach from the direct to consumer brands by using a subscription model available only to physicians, clinics, hospitals, health plans, insurers, medical schools, medical systems and medical centers.  The concept is that internet based information that in prescribed by the patient’s own doctor or provider, is more likely to be accessed, to be read, and to be understood.  It is also likely to limit random internet searching resulting in much mis-information and thus worry and concern for patients as well as time consuming “re-education” for providers, that is often required on follow up visits.

Regardless of approach, patients are looking to better understand their medical conditions and the internet provides the best overall mechanism to accomplish that goal.  However, directed or prescribed informed therapy would seem to offer a better option, more in keeping with the traditional ergonomics of the physician/patient relationship.  Time will tell how this will play out in the market, but regardless, we will all be online checking out medical information for ourselves and loved ones . . . jomaxx

Physicians turning to information therapy to increase patient wellness.
Large managed-care groups like Kaiser Permanente and Group Health Cooperative are increasingly using electronic medical-record systems to help solve the age-old problem of getting patients to take better care of themselves.  The trend is called “information therapy,” and it involves delivering reliable health information directly to patients to help them manage their conditions and make treatment choices. Health plans also are offering online self-management programs and virtual coaching sessions for a wide range of health issues.  As doctors worry over the reliability of online data, a growing number of practitioners are pushing information therapy. And doctors without electronic systems are steering patients to medical Websites vetted by experts with the latest guidelines for a wide range of medical conditions and diseases. Many Kaiser Permanente members are using the “My Health Manager secure Website,  which gives patients access to interactive Web tools to help them manage chronic conditions.

Online Records Get Patients Involved in Care – http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123733342732563543.html

Informed Clinical Sciences Corporation is a worldwide designer and developer of medical informatics instruments (MIIs) and systems for delivering electronic medical care – http://www.icsciences.com

NorthPoint Domain, Inc provides medical information services and Informed Care technology products designed to address health literacy concerns and deliver patient care oversight for the specialty specific practice – http://www.northpointdomain.com

Informed Medical Decisions – http://www.informedmedicaldecisions.org/

EMR (EHR) and HIPPA – http://www.emrandhipaa.com/emr-and-hipaa/2009/03/25/information-therapy-and-phr/

‘Information Therapy’ As Important As Other Medical Treatments Reveals Conference – http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/38591.php

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