AMA launches nation’s first web-based H1N1 flu tool

AMAfluhelp.org is a FREE website and is designed to facilitate better communication and health care coordination among patients and physicians.

All those who want to learn more about H1N1 and the seasonal flu can benefit from this website as it enables the patients to determine the severity of the flu symptoms and also allows them to seek medical advice from the physicians online.

Interactive health programmes on the website
Once a consumer creates a free account on AMA’s free flu assessment website, he/she can subscribe to the following interactive health programmes as mentioned on the website’s homepage:

-Child Assessment: H1N1 flu and children under 18
-Am I high risk for H1N1 and need the vaccine?
-Adult Self Assessment: Do you have H1N1 flu?
-H1N1 Post Vaccine Monitoring
-Pregnancy: Do you need the H1N1 flu vaccine?
-H1N1 Flu: Can I return to school or work?

Each programme takes the patient through a series of questions based on the guidelines of Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S., by which the patients can determine the severity of their flu symptoms and seek the best course of action depending on the symptoms.

To scrutinize the patients’ symptoms and facilitating them a proper treatment, a set of online medical tools designed by the physicians are also provided on the website.

“With both seasonal flu and H1N1 circulating this year, physician offices are already busier than normal,” said AMA Board Member Mary Anne McCaffree, M.D.

“This resource allows patients to assess their symptoms and determine when to seek care for themselves or their loved ones. To prevent the spread of influenza, this site also helps determine when it is safe for those who have been sick to return to work or school,” McCaffree added.

Although, AMAfluhelp.org may turn out to be a very useful H1N1 flu tool, those who exhibit severe flu-like symptoms should immediately contact their doctors because nothing can replace the personalized visit to a doctor, stated AMA.

Website launched in Colorado
The website from American Medical Association (AMA) is a joint work of Microsoft and Healthy Circles, a Colorado-based company. It was unveiled on Oct. 22 by Colorado’s Governor Bill Ritter who calls it as the nation’s first comprehensive flu assessment website.

Colorado is the first American state to support the new H1N1 web tool.

"As part of Colorado's dedication to healthcare technology, we are proud to be the first state in the nation to support this new online tool for Colorado families and healthcare professionals," said Gov. Ritter. "This new tool will play a critical role in helping to reduce demands on our healthcare system."

Health officials are speculating that the website will prove to be a very potent tool, especially in the wake of the pandemic H1N1 influenza.