Health
apps and the wearable trackers that connect to them are giving us more
data about our personal health than ever before, but medical experts
remain the best resource when it comes to even the most minor diagnosis.
First
Opinion is hoping to bridge that gap between "quantified self" apps and
a full-on doctor visit by providing an app that puts you in direct
contact with real doctors around the world, who are capable of rendering
real-time medical advice.
The
24-hour service allows the user to communicate with a doctor an
unlimited number of times to help answer a myriad of general medical
questions via text messages within the app.
Before
you're given the opportunity to communicate with the doctor, you're
presented with a brief bio of the doctor's specialty, how long they've
been practicing, their geographic location and how many questions
they've already answered on the service. The bio also includes a peer
review from another doctor, offering some insight into the doctor you're
about to chat with.
The
bio even includes personal details (such as if the doctor has children)
that could serve to help humanize the doctor as the user attempts to
share a possibly sensitive medical issue with a relative stranger.
If
you're willing to wait 24 hours for an answer, the service is free of
charge. But for those looking for an answer within five minutes, the
cost is $9 per month, with another option of answers within three
minutes for $29 per month.
One
possible issue with the app is what First Opinion's Terms of Service
reveals, namely, that you won't be dealing with doctors licensed to
practice in the U.S. Additionally, the company's site advises users to
avoid using the app during emergency situations, stating, "call 9-1-1 or
your own physician or pediatrician if you suspect or have reason to
believe an emergency exists…"
That
very important bit of information might not be entirely clear to those
who haven't taken the time to read the site's 12-page advisory.
Similarly,
the Terms also dissuade users from taking the advice of the doctors as
true medical advice, stating, "you will not consider the material
contained in or transmitted through the App or Services to be medical
advice, diagnosis/es, treatment, a prescription, and/or product
recommendation." So, sure, those are all prudent advisories that help to
cover the app's bases legally, but it kind of undermines the very
intent of the app itself.
Nevertheless,
we gave the service a couple of tries and it worked as described. When
you first log in, you're asked to provide your age and gender, after
which the app matches you with a doctor. On two separate occasions we
were matched with a doctor in India and a doctor in Australia. In our
most detailed exchange, using the free version, we received a solid
answer to a question within five minutes.
After
answering couple of follow-up questions from the doctor, we were given
additional answers offering more detail and perspective on the initial
answer. The exchange was interactive, pleasant and impressive.
So
while it's clear — even based on the company's own statements — that
one shouldn't use the text from the doctors as real medical advice, such
a real-time line to trained physicians is a compelling proposition.
Currently, the app is iOS only.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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