The ultimate "doc-in-a-box" ?When freestanding free·stand·ing adj. Standing or operating independently of anything else: a freestanding bell tower; a freestanding maternity clinic. emergency medical facilities began springing up all over the country some years ago, comedians A comedian is one who entertains through comedy, such as jokes and other forms of humour. Comedians (English language) A
Such companies as Healthy Way, MedScape, and Mediconsult are now accessible through their Websites on the Internet, providing a virtual medical clinic quite unlike a "real" medical clinic. Using the Internet to link the highest-quality, most current information available, these services put this information in one place, easily available to the patient, a family member, or a friend. By logging on to, for example, the Mediconsult site (www.mediconsult.com), one has such choices as: * Obtaining patient information on more than 50 medical conditions See carpal tunnel syndrome, computer vision syndrome, dry eyes and deep vein thrombosis. , from one of the largest data bases ever assembled as·sem·ble v. as·sem·bled, as·sem·bling, as·sem·bles v.tr. 1. To bring or call together into a group or whole: assembled the jury. 2. expressly for patient use * A bookstore with more than 700 titles that can be purchased through the site * "Consult-Our-Specialist" for a personal, confidential response to detailed medical questions * "Ask Barb" for help available from a nurse-communications specialist * Purchase of medical supplies * Information on prescription drugs prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, * Support groups * "Journal Club," which evaluates treatment based on recent medical journal articles. Unlike a "real" clinic, the site does not diagnose diagnose /di·ag·nose/ (di´ag-nos) to identify or recognize a disease. di·ag·nose v. 1. To distinguish or identify a disease by diagnosis. 2. or suggest treatment. It does, however, provide medical information on many subjects--most of it at no charge. On the other hand, the fee for the Consult-Our-Specialist service is $200. Although it, too, does not diagnose or offer specific treatment, it does give the patient a comprehensive report on what his or her options are, hospitals doing advanced research in that field, and the latest treatments. Most of the income to the company is generated by advertisers of pharmaceuticals and other medical products. With more than 300,000 persons currently visiting the site each month, advertisers are guaranteed broad exposure of their products. If you have access to the Internet, we recommend exploring this and related Websites, including The Saturday Evening Post Website at www.satevepost.org.--E.B. |
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