AboutDigestion.com Comprehensive SmartMed Center Launched by MedicineNet.com Patient-Centric Site Features In-Depth, Easily Accessed Doctor-Produced Information.Business Editors/Health and Medical Writers IRVINE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 10, 2000 MedicineNet.com, a privately-held Internet provider of proprietary 100% doctor-produced healthcare information on the World Wide Web at www.medicinenet.com, Monday announced that it is launching AboutDigestion.com, a satellite interactive Web site produced by gastroenterologists that offers an extensive range of specific information on digestion-related conditions, and peer-to-peer message boards for patients. AboutDigestion.com focuses on diseases and conditions located in the colon, esophagus, gallbladder, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas and stomach. Irritable bowel syndrome irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), condition characterized by frequently alternating constipation and diarrhea in the absence of any disease process. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, especially in the lower left quadrant, bloating, and flatulence. and GERD GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD abbr. gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Disorder characterized by frequent passage of gastric contents from the stomach back into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD may include heartburn, coughing, frequent clearing of the throat, and difficulty in swallowing. ), common concerns, are fully discussed, along with procedures and tests such as the Barium Enema, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy endoscopy Examination of the body's interior through an instrument inserted into a natural opening or an incision, usually as an outpatient procedure. Endoscopes include the upper gastrointestinal endoscope (for the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), the colonoscope (for the , Sigmoidoscopy Sigmoidoscopy Definition Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure by which a doctor inserts either a short and rigid or slightly longer and flexible fiber-optic tube into the rectum to examine the lower portion of the large intestine (or bowel). , Lactose Tolerance Test lactose tolerance test A test for lactase deficiency, based on oral loading of lactose. See Lactose, Lactose intolerance. Cf Glucose tolerance test. and Upper GI Series. "The point of our presentation to patients at AboutDigestion.com is that the better-informed they are, the less likely they are to be apprehensive, misdirected or unaware," stated Jay W. Marks, M.D., the board-certified internist and gastoenterologist who is the host columnist on the site. "We believe that well-informed patients can become empowered through knowledge about their medical conditions and courses of treatment." Marks graduated from the Yale University School of Medicine and, after 20 years at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, presently directs an independent Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Unit where he continues to perform specialized tests for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Within the Community section of the site, there is a Doctors' Dialogue of audio questions and answers between physicians, and a Doctors' Response area, where digestion-related questions from viewers on such subjects as lactose intolerance, diet for gallstones Gallstones Definition A gallstone is a solid crystal deposit that forms in the gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile salts until they are needed to help digest fatty foods. , medications for colitis, parasites from sushi and the spread of Hepatitis C are answered by the MedicineNet.com doctors. When viewers click on "Support Group," they will find highly active, helpful message boards that are monitored by the doctors. "As owners of the largest commercial proprietary healthcare database on the World Wide Web, we felt that we could best serve the needs of medical information retrievers (the second largest group of online viewers) by giving them immediate access to condition-specific areas through the SmartMed Centers," stated Gene Lu, president of MedicineNet.com. "We are creating a global e-health brand, whereby we are repurposing our extensive content, via the Centers and private labeling, and localizing it by taking it into other parts of the world, which we can now do on a large scale through our partnership with Singapore-based WBL WBL Work Based Learning WBL Working for Better Life WBL Washington Bridge League WBL World Bocce League WBl West Baltic (linguistics) WBL Whitham-Bdzil-Lambourn WBL Wide Band Link WBL Wideband Limiting Corporation Limited." AboutDigestion.com is the second in a series of SmartMed Centers to be launched throughout the year by MedicineNet.com: last month, AboutArthritis.com was launched, with great success. The next SmartMed Centers to be offered will cover Allergies, Diabetes, Cancer, and the Heart. The MedicineNet.com database is comprised of more than 13,000 pages of content, substantially more than any other consumer-oriented online medical resource. MedicineNet.com presents information on more than 1,000 diseases and treatments, medical procedures and tests, as well as detailed information about proper uses, potential side effects and drug interactions of more than 300 of the most common prescription and OTC OTC See: Over-the-counter. OTC See over-the-counter market (OTC). medicines. The MedicineNet.com medical dictionary includes more than 9,000 entries online; it has been published by IDG IDG International Data Group IDG Integrated Drive Generator IDG Installation Design Guide IDG Internet Discussion Group IDG Inset Dielectric Guide IDG International Dangerous Goods (mail, shipping) in hard copy (along with a CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). ) as the Webster's New World(TM) Medical Dictionary, available in bookstores now. About MedicineNet.com MedicineNet.com was founded in 1996 by a group of dedicated, forward-thinking physicians and high-tech executives. Over the past four years, the company has focused on content creation by 60+ physicians from a variety of disciplines across the United States. The company's network of U.S. board-certified physician writers and scientists provides proprietary, easy-to-read, in-depth medical information for consumers in a user-friendly, interactive format. For further information, visit www.medicinenet.com or contact David Sorenson, vice president -- Marketing, at David.Sorenson@MedicineNet.com/ 949/754-6520. |
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