Every Person Should Have a Digital Health Checker Installed on Their Preferred Device

When a person falls ill, they may question whether they should go to the doctor. They don’t want to spend the money and possibly expose themselves to new germs if they don’t absolutely have to. People have become more hesitant about visiting a doctor for something that may be a minor concern. In this situation, they may turn to the internet or an app on their phone for help.

The Benefits of Using a Digital Health Checker

In the past, people would choose their most prevalent symptoms and enter them into a search engine. The search engine would then provide possible results. However, these results were rarely accurate and could lead a person on a wild goose chase as they tried to determine what they had. Often, the results terrified them. They would think they had a life-threatening disease and panic. Now they can use a digital health checker and obtain better results.

Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technologies, digital health checkers have become more accurate. While these tools aren’t foolproof, they can help a person determine whether they need to see a doctor immediately. They tend to err on the side of caution.  They provide a person with peace of mind, as they have a better understanding of what constitutes a medical emergency and what can wait until their doctor’s office is open.

How to Use This Tool

Using this tool involves answering a series of questions about the symptoms being experienced. Patients find they receive more accurate results if they provide as much information as possible. The digital health checker can only provide results based on the information entered by the user.

Once this information has been entered, the program analyzes the responses and provides the user with one or more possible diagnoses. This program will typically recommend whether the individual should seek medical care immediately and which type of facility they might want to visit. When the condition isn’t that serious, the digital health checker will let the individual know that it is okay for them to wait and call their doctor during regular business hours.

Some symptom checkers now offer users the option of speaking to a medical professional after receiving their diagnosis. This option is only available if the medical condition is not a life-threatening emergency. If the symptom checker recommends immediate medical attention, it will direct the user to the appropriate location rather than offering the option to speak to a medical professional online.

Nurse Call Centers

Before the expansion of online symptom checkers, many individuals would call a nurse to determine if they needed to visit a doctor immediately or could wait until regular operating hours. Nurse call centers can become overwhelmed, causing patients to wait for extended periods to speak with a nurse. Online symptom checkers eliminate that issue, as they can be used by multiple people simultaneously. A person can get rapid answers when they choose this option rather than calling a nurse. Using the online symptom checker doesn’t take away the option of calling a nurse call center. If a person feels the online symptom checker is not addressing their specific need, they can still make this call.

Expanded Use

Millions of individuals have already used online symptom checkers, and more will do so in the future. As people realize the benefits of working with a digital health checker, the number of available tools will increase. People need to ensure they are working with a reputable provider to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Fortunately, thanks to advances in AI and machine learning, these programs get better every day. A person might wish to speak to their doctor or other medical professional to learn which programs they recommend and why.

Fewer ER Visits

When people have access to a digital health checker, they are less likely to go to the ER for a condition that can be treated at home or wait until regular business hours. Approximately 70% of ER visits are unnecessary. When a person knows that they don’t have a life-threatening condition, they won’t fill up these hospital emergency rooms. Staff members will be able to treat those who need immediate medical attention, often because their life depends on receiving care promptly. Digital health checkers also help keep costs down, as billions of dollars are spent every year on unnecessary ER visits. Every time the digital health checker lets a person know that they don’t need immediate medical attention, it may save a trip to the ER and keep costs down.

Staffing Shortages

Countless healthcare organizations are facing staffing shortages. High patient volume overwhelms these facilities quickly. When individuals have access to a digital health checker, they are less likely to visit a facility. If they find they do need medical care, they can often receive this care online. Staff members then have more time to focus on cases that require in-person visits. Healthcare improves when staff members aren’t overworked and at risk of burnout. The quality of care improves for all as the focus remains on the most serious cases.

Informed Patients

Individuals who use a digital health checker are more informed about their health. They can take the information obtained from using this checker to their doctor when they go in for a visit. Informed patients are more likely to participate in creating a treatment plan that meets their needs. When this plan is developed, they are more likely to adhere to it, leading to better outcomes. Although the health checker is not perfect and mistakes can be made, individuals can reduce the risk of this happening by ensuring they input as much information as possible. The more information the health checker has, the more likely the diagnosis will be accurate. Furthermore, the medical professional they see during their in-person visit will also need this information to confirm what the digital health checker found or provide an alternative diagnosis.

Any person with internet access can download a symptom checker tool or app. Once they see how easy it is to use these resources, they may turn to them every time they have a medical question. The tools and apps offer greater accuracy than a regular search through Google or another search engine. Every person should try one of these tools or apps today to see how helpful they are.