According to a new study by University of Pennsylvania Researchers found that health-related internet searches doubled during the week before patients visited an emergency department.
“Even though we’re in the early stages of this research, we’ve learned a lot about the questions patients ask before making the decision to visit an emergency department (ED), as well as questions they have about their care after their visit,” said lead author Jeremy Asch, an innovation strategist in the Penn Medicine Center for Digital Health. “Knowing what patients look for before visiting an ED can help us anticipate their needs and direct them to the best sources of care. And knowing what they search for afterward tells us how we can communicate better and help patients on their paths.”
