Healthcare Technology Featured Article

August 28, 2012

HealthTap Releases App for Answering Medical Questions


In the world of WebMD and Google searches, people are constantly seeking answers to their health questions and problems online. Now, there’s a way that people do not have to attempt to self-diagnose through a list of symptoms that they may or may not have correctly matched to a disease.

HealthTap is a new app available to Android, iPhone and iPad users, allowing them to connect with 14,000 licensed physicians. Not only that, but the 14,000 physicians can answer questions in 115 different areas of specialty.

The questions posed are answered within 24 hours – often shorter – saving time and money for those with non-emergency health questions and do not have insurance for costly doctors’ appointments. Each question costs users $9.99 and follow-up questions are $5.99. 

With these questions, users can upload their medical documents through a HIPAA-secure feature and pictures, as applicable.

On the website version, users are able to post free questions and receive answers via a discussion board setting. Other doctors are then able to “agree” with an answer, the HealthTap equivalent of “liking” on Facebook.

Why would doctors, who get paid for any level of service, offer free advice? While some may genuinely like to help people and are motivated by scoring “points” and “awards” via HealthTap like the “Doogie Howser Award” and the “Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable Award,” others have converted HealthTap users into real patients and built their profile in the medical community. 

Stated Dr. Lawrence Rosen on the HealthTap website: "HealthTap is a brilliant example of high-tech, high-touch medicine: social technology directly connecting practitioners and patients. Building relationships with patents is why I became a pediatrician, and HealthTap helps me do that in a highly efficient and engaging way."

HealthTap has received four-and-a-half out of five stars in the Apple store, and has been well-received by patients and doctors alike.




Edited by Braden Becker
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