Whether you are looking for an at-home flu remedy or the cause behind a specific symptom, googling anything related to your health can be dangerous. With so much information out there, it’s hard to know what is accurate and what isn’t. Well, fret no longer.
Google is pairing up with Mayo Clinic, one of the world’s most respected non-profit medical research facilities, to bring internet users more accurate information when it comes to medical conditions.
Through the use of the Knowledge Graph, which is currently behind Google’s instant search results for sporting events, translations, Wikipedia entries and more, the search engine will soon begin showing relevant and fact-checked information about generic health searches spanning over 400 medical conditions. While the feature won’t help practices with medical marketing services, it will allow internet users to find immediate answers without a single click.
For accuracy, the medical information placed in the Knowledge Graph will be reviewed by more than 11 doctors from Mayo Clinic, on average. The instant search results will provide treatments for common symptoms and tell you how common, critical, or contagious a condition is.
This is a big move for Google, as 1 in 20 searches are related to medical conditions. This is not the first time the search engine giant has developed special products and features to help its users stay healthy. Google Health, its personal health record service, was discontinued due to a lack of traction; but Google also recently released a health app called Google Fit.
It will be interesting to see how the company approaches this new push into the health industry, as until now, many have criticized health professionals for spreading information that builds views, not accuracy. With the help of their friends at Mayo Clinic, Google may make our lives both easier and healthier.
