Subject:
RDoctor, a developer of clinical decision support software
Author:
anonymous
Date:
7/3/2006
A Way to Reduce Medical Errors - A Leading Cause of Death
(PRLEAP.COM) For Immediate Release
To sign for free RDoctor on-line service visit http://www.rdoctor.com or http://www.symptomat.com
Philadelphia, PA June 16, 2006 (RDoctor) — How Common Are Medical Mistakes? The estimations run from the 98,000 to 195,000 deaths annually due to in-hospital medical errors in the USA alone. Seven years ago the Institute of Medicine published a report, To Err Is Human. Since then, new reports backed up the original data and cited higher figures. About 1.14 million patient-safety incidents occurred among the 37 million hospitalizations in the Medicare population over the years 2000-2002. Proposals for a successful safety program require a national effort to make significant investments in information technology infrastructure and to provide an environment and education that enables to contribute to an active quality-improvement process. RDoctor, a developer of clinical decision support software, launched the free on-line version of Symptomat as a way to assist patient safety through providing a second opinion. Expert system of RDoctor looks for the solution of the problem from the point of early diagnostics and thorough detailed analysis of the patient’s medical history.
“RDoctor provides clinical decision support and public health tool. Symptomat offers an Artificial Intelligence engine and robust repository of clinically relevant evidence based rules that can improve care” said Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of RDoctor. “Doctors tend to focus on their own area of expertise and pay less attention to complaints and signs that seem less relevant. RDoctor software analyzes the whole picture by using thorough questioning.”
Free on-line version of the software provides the patient with the list of probable diagnoses. Symptomat generates the list by comparing the combination of patient’s answers with the knowledge encoded in the database. Two steps of the free version allow a patient to check for diagnoses that are highly probable and to avoid missing the less possible diseases. The third step is in development at present. It allows the patient to focus on the result of the first two steps.
One of the trends in the patient’s management is relying on self-education and second opinions. The second opinion may prevent you from unnecessary and costly procedures and treatments.
A recent discussion on an AOL forum “Should we use the Internet to self-diagnose medical conditions?” reveals that at least half of patients rechecks their medical information on-line. Notes Carie, the discussion participant, “…I have spent over a million pounds in taxes in the UK and I have not had a doctor who shows any sign of competence, interest or engagement since the 1960s. Thank God we can access information and engage in dialogue with others on the Internet…" Writes another discussion participant: "…On one of our visits it was found that Pat had a
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