Medical experts and laypeople advise getting a second opinion when you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness or when you want to double-check your prescribed treatment, medicines and prognosis.
But sometimes, figuring out whom to seek help from can prove a difficult step, especially when the area in which you live may not have a board-certified specialist, teaching hospital or clinical trials.
Many patients also find it useful to talk with someone who’s had the same illness, symptoms or operation, but may know of no relative or friend in that position and may not know how to find a support group.
Fortunately, for those with access to a computer, the information superhighway can be a route to regaining your health. In spite of the authoritative nature of these services, it’s still important to consult your physician about any information you plan to use.
“Obtaining information on-line is no different than obtaining suggestions from your family members or friends. You should pass everything by your physician,” says Michelle Moran, corporate communications head at CompuServe Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio.
At the same time, she adds some advantages: “Everything is at their fingertips, and the support groups offer a chance to share information on a range from special equipment to insurance.”
Business writer Gary Schine agrees that casting a wide net to gather the most information possible is useful. In his case it proved to be a lifesaver. Five years ago he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia that was considered fatal. He sought out experts and found someone who prescribed a new treatment and, in the process, a new opportunity.
Schine has now become a resource center, offering a service that provides written reports on the latest treatments and clinical trials. He concurs with the idea that the information should be a beginning rather than an end.
“I recommend getting the information I offer, circling those things that look applicable to your case and taking it to a doctor to see what’s worth following up,” he said.
Dr. David Hanson, chairman of the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School, thinks Schine’s approach is on target.
“These services are not certified or regulated so the information may or may not be accurate. At this point, most of the preventive information is fairly good, however.”
Following is a roundup of offerings, plus costs:
– Schine On-Line Services. Schine’s two-year-old service continually gathers and updates the medical findings of several databases. The service is available by calling 800-346-3287 and providing as specific a diagnosis as possible.
Users pay by credit card. The cost is $189 for information on cancer illnesses and $110 for other illnesses. Schine mails reports to callers within two days. For more information write to Schine On-Line Services, 39 Brenton Ave., Providence, R.I. 02906.
– America Online. This service offers names of support groups through its Health & Medical Chat Forum for a wide variety of illnesses. The information has been provided by outside sources, including medical journals, said a spokesman. Call 800-827-6364 to go on-line. The company’s rate of $9.95 a month includes access to these support forums.
– CompuServe. This service offers an extensive array of health offerings, including databases with archived information that can be searched and special-interest forums for sharing information and help. Call 800-848-8199 to go on-line. The cost is $9.95 a month for unlimited use of the company’s basic service, with the first month free. Some of the medical services require an additional charge of $4.80 an hour.
– Prodigy. This service offers help through many routes. A Medical Support Bulletin Board includes advice from some doctors. Its Women’s Health area has columns on nutrition, exercise and health. Keeping Fit provides information on weight, exercise, sleep requirements and skin care. Call 800-776-3449 to go on-line. The cost is $9.95 a month for five on-line hours, then $2.95 an hour after that.
– The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This Atlanta-based agency that’s part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, electronically offers a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and related publications over the Internet.
Users must have Internet access and software that retrieves files by file transfer protocol or that accesses the World Wide Web. For more information, call the public inquiry number at 404-639-3534, though the number seems to be perpetually busy. For information related to buying the necessary Adobe Acrobat sofware, call 800-642-3623 or check with stores in your area. The retail price of the software averages $195, an Adobe spokeswoman said.
– Grateful Med. The National Technical Information Service in Springfield, Va., offers a software package that allows users to search the National Library of Medicine’s Medline database, which contains millions of references and abstracts to medical journal articles from 1966 to the present. Call 800-423-9255 for ordering the software by telephone. The cost is $29.95. Users also need a password, which they obtain by filling out a form in the software package. The average cost of a search is between $1 and $2.
– PaperChase. For the last 10 years, Beth Israel Hospital in Boston has provided four on-line databases for users to search references. The databases include The National Libary of Medicine’s Medline, Health and Administration, AIDS line and The National Cancer Institute’s Cancerlit Database. Phone 800-722-2075 to find a local access number. Users will need a PC and a modem hookup. The cost is based on a $23 hourly charge. There is no monthly minimum or startup cost.
To check whether any doctor whose name you’ve received from any of these services is board-certified, call the American Board of Medical Specialties at 800-776-2378.
The Public Citizens’ Health Research Group publishes a list of doctors who’ve been disciplined by their states. It costs $15. Write Public Citizen, Dept. QD, 2000 T Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Specify your state and allow four to six weeks for delivery. For more information, call 202-833-3000.
