Navigating the Net Wisely in a Health Crisis

Andrew Schorr, a specialist in health communications, is convinced that the Internet saved his life. Now, through a book he wrote with Mary Adam Thomas, “The Web-Savvy Patient,” he is trying to help others facing a medical crisis use the Internet to their advantage and avoid its potential pitfalls.

In their book, the authors warned that in searching for reliable information, Web users have to be discerning and think like consumers, not patients, to avoid scams and commercially motivated advice. A good place to start would be patient advocacy groups affiliated with national nonprofit health associations, like the American Heart Association or the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Online patient communities exist for virtually every major illness and quite a few that are relatively obscure. For people concerned about privacy, real names do not have to be used when posting messages. In addition to finding the best available therapy, online patient communities can help people with problems associated with various health conditions and their treatments. When dealing with a serious or chronic illness, it can be very challenging to keep track of every test, treatment, dosage and complication, as well as the contact information for every health professional concerned with your care. One of the most valuable pieces of advice in Mr. Schorr’s book is to establish an electronic personal health record.