Search Engines as Early Warning Epidemic Monitors

Google has come up with an innovative use of the Internet and health information. The NY Times recently noted:

One of Google’s geniuses figured out that whenever people get sick, they use Google to search for more information. By collating these searches, Google has created an early-warning system for flu outbreaks in your area, with color-coded graphs. Google says that Flu Trends has recognized outbreaks two weeks sooner than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has.

As Google aptly stated, this is an exciting development, because early detection of a disease outbreak can reduce the number of people affected. Google also published a paper on the research behind their Flu Trends in an article in Nature entitled Detecting influenza epidemics using search engine query data.

Specific Telemedicine Spending in Final Stimulus Bill

The recently passed $787 billion economic stimulation bill includes $19 billion for health information technology (HIT). Specific for telemedicine, it will provide $4.7 billion for NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, $2.5 billion for USDA’s Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program, $1.5 billion for HRSA to use to build or repair health centers and/or to purchase equipment, and $85 million for health IT and telehealth technologies within the Indian Health Service. In addition ot this, much of the other HIT money will most likely have telehealth applications. (Source: Federal Telemedicine News)