Symptom Checker: Your personal mhealth app

Thanks to mobile technology, we have everything in the palm of our hand these days. Smartphones in combination with app are providing people with extensive information in less than a second. Today we have apps that can help us shop, order food, order a cab and much more in a blink of an eye. These apps aren’t just available but are being used by millions all over the globe. In this context, a mhealth app like symptom checker seems to be the most logical and convenient development.

The basic definition of a Symptom Checker is, it is an app that helps you check your symptoms and get help with your medical problems. But such a short description not only doesn’t do justice to this innovative tool, but it also takes away from its importance, legitimacy and authenticity.

In a world where people find it hilarious that checking about a minor physical problem like a headache online can result in a diagnosis of such chronic diseases like cancer, a lot of people are wary about such online tools being used by non-medical people to get a diagnosis. So, it is important to note that Symptom Checkers aren’t just virtual diagnosis tools; they are much more.

Basically, there are three things that a Symptom Checker can help people with:

1. Check Symptoms: People can use the app to check their symptoms in a systematic manner. Once the user provides the app with their symptoms, it takes into account other important parameters like age, sex, medical history, etc. to come to a conclusion. Every investigation is unique, and care is taken to ensure that is diagnosis is as accurate as possible.
2. Explore: Once the user has a definitive answer to what his symptoms might mean he has a number of different avenues to explore. First, he can further explore the condition and secondly he can explore the treatment prescribed by various doctors. All the required information is provided in a comprehensive and yet easy to understand manner
3. Chat with a doctor: Finally, using the mHealth app, you can simply contact a doctor through chat. Various specialists are available with whom patients can interact and get a diagnosis and treatment plan or even just an opinion.

There are many advantages that a Symptom Checker app can provide people with. Here are a few reasons why such an app can be advantageous:

A convenient tool 

The best thing about this app is that it is a tool of convenience. Just like any other app, you can access information and even the services of an expert from the convenience of your home

Helps to determine health emergencies 

One of the most common dilemmas people have is whether to consider a health issue an emergency. From the patient point of view, emergencies are expensive. But deciding whether or not a particular situation needs a visit to the ER is a tough decision to take as a wrong call can lead to immense health complications or even death.

Conversely, if every little problem ends up in the ER, it can be problematic for the hospital and the healthcare personnel and the patients who need the care, in the long run. Crowding of the ER could lead to unavailability of resources and services to people who need them the most. Good mHealth apps and Symptom Checker apps can help people in such situations. The app can be used to determine whether or not the situation is serious enough to warrant emergency care.

The convenience of anonymity

There are many situations when people know they need to contact a doctor but don’t due to various social constraints. This can lead to many complications and unnecessary suffering on the patient’s part. The Symptom Checker app is a good way to ensure that the patient is getting good advice and has access to medical care and treatment. The app can help them keep their anonymity as well as get proper medical advice and even treatment plans. This is a great way to ensure that the most vulnerable sectors are covered.

An authentic source of information

Symptom Checker apps can be a source of authentic information. Specifically designed to provide proper and accurate information, a number of clinical and independent trials have resulted in almost 90% accurate diagnosis.