The American Medical Association has launched an interactive Web site for the public to evaluate the severity of influenza symptoms of individuals or family members and share that information with their health care providers, who in turn can use the site to monitor their patients' symptoms, the AMA announced during a telephone briefing.
The Web site, AMAfluhelp.org, is described as the country's first "comprehensive Web-based patient flu-assessment program," which "walks patients through a series of questions to determine the severity of their flu symptoms," based on the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an AMA statement announcing the launch.
The free site features physician-designed online tools "to help physicians monitor their patients' symptoms, facilitate care and treatment decisions, and efficiently manage their practices' patient flow."
For example, a physician can use the site to determine whether a patient can return to school or work, and a patient can use the site to generate a note from the physician to that effect. Also, a patient can use the site to determine whether to seek medical care for themselves or a family member. A patient who indicates that he or she has a high fever will receive a prompt to call his or her physician immediately or seek urgent medical care. The site also can be used to help patients monitor symptoms after vaccination, prompting them on when they should seek medical help.
People can log in to the Web site or can participate anonymously and can "invite" family members and their physicians and other health care providers to connect with the system. The information they enter is private and secured, and personal data cannot be accessed without a user's consent, according to the AMA statement.
Dr. James Mault, chairman and CEO of HealthyCircles, the company powering the AMA portal, said during the briefing that a physician can enter the program and monitor all the patients he or she is following, and communicate with them through online questions and answers.
During the briefing, Chris Lindley, director of emergency preparedness and response in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said that a link to the Web site will be added to the department's Web site, as part of the state's response to the influenza pandemic.
The AMA is promoting the Web site in collaboration with a coalition that includes Blue Cross NEPA, CVS Caremark, Merck & Co., Microsoft Corp., Minute Clinic, and the state of Colorado.