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Healthcare, insurance and injury lawyers take notice : 8 in 10 use Internet for health information

In a press release this week, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reports Eight in ten (79%) internet users have looked online for information on at least one of 16 health topics, with increased interest in diet, fitness, drugs, health insurance, experimental treatments, and particular doctors and hospitals. That translates to about 95 million American adults (18+) who use the internet to find health information.

Per Susannah Fox, Associate Director at the Pew Internet Project:

Half of all American adults are now using the internet to gather advice about health and health care. Some people, especially those with high-speed internet access and many years of online experience, are also changing the contours of health searching. Several years ago the usual internet health search was for someone in real medical need such as an outbreak of worrisome symptoms or a new medical diagnosis. These days, experienced internet users and those with broadband connections are just as likely to be looking up information about how to stay well, which doctors have the best surgical record, or what insurance pricing options are available. The internet’s power users now look up every-day questions and do their health homework online.

LexBlog Tip: It's safe to assume with 79% using the Internet for insurance and healthcare information, a high number of Americans are looking for legal information online on those same topics. If you are a healthcare, insurance, personal injury, medical malpractice, disabilty or workers' compensation lawyer you need to be sharing legal information online. Localize this info to your state and you could be come the premier source for such legal info. A legal blog is great way to do so.

Source for post: Sabrina I. Pacifici's beSpacific

  • http://healthcarebloglaw.blogspot.com/ Bob Coffield

    I agree with your comments. Relatively recently (August 2004) started up Health Care Blog Law (http://healthcarebloglaw.blogspot.com/) which primarily focuses on health law issues of interest to West Virginia health care providers. I try to report on both national and state issues that impact WV providers. My practice centers around health law technology issues, privacy, HIPAA, certificate of need, provider transactions and other state/federal regulatory matters.
    Since starting the blog I have been contacted by a number of potential clients who found me via the blog. I also utilize the blog as a place for me to store information that I might need in the future and use it to send links to current clients on topics relevant to their particular situation.
    One of the other very interesting things that I don't see a lot of discussion about is the ability to monitor access to the blog, where they are going, how long they are staying and what searches the person ran to get there. It gives me insight into the type of information that people are looking for in the health/legal arena here in WV.
    Thanks for your insightful post and making me feel like the effort I am putting forth is worth the while.
    bob coffield