Swine Flu H1N1 Assessment Tool Launched by Microsoft

Critical healthcare resources could be stretched thin as people flood hospital emergency departments and physicians’ offices to determine whether they have the H1N1 Flu. With the swine flu (H1N1) pandemic under way, Microsoft announced a new site to help gauge symptoms by using an H1N1 self-assessment tool. The self-assessment tool is licensed from Emory University.

The H1N1 self-assessment tool was made to help people decide what to do if they are worried that they or someone they know might have the H1N1 flu. The site offers consumers a self-assessment licensed from medical and public health experts at Emory University. The service assists people in deciding whether their symptoms could be caused by the H1N1 flu virus and provides guidance on what they can do next.

Microsoft is committed to improving health around the world through software innovation. Over the past 12 years, Microsoft has steadily increased its investments in health, with a focus on addressing the challenges of health providers, health and social services organizations, payers, consumers and life sciences companies worldwide. This latest venture for Microsoft, the swine flu self-assessment site, should help keep people out of emergency room or doctor's office if they do not need to be there.

If a person using the swine flu self-assessment tool decides to see a provider after taking the assessment, a prepare-for-visit tool allows them to compile an organized health history by combining the self-assessment answers with health information stored in the user’s account in Microsoft HealthVault. HealthVault is a personal health application platform designed to put consumers in control of their health information.

The H1N1 Swine Flu Resposnse Center, run by Microsoft, will help with the widespread panic that seems to occur with anything called a pandemic.

“It is going to be essential that we use every tool and service at our disposal to contain this illness, and online H1N1 self-assessment tools, such as the one offered by Microsoft, can be helpful in providing people with ways to determine whether they should seek emergency care," stated Angela Gardner, M.D., FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

To access the Microsoft H1N1 Swine Flu Response Center, go to www.h1n1responsecenter.com.

Cheryl Phillips
Exclusive to HULIQ.com

source: PR-USA

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