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Implant Safety: How to use the Internet to help monitor your health

By Steve Lombardi

MAINTAINING VIGILANCE AS A PATIENT – IMPLANT RECALL SAFETY NEWS

Yesterday we discussed the FDA recall classifications and today I promised to explain one method of how patients with implants can be one step closer to being safe from product defects.

MAKING THE INTERNET WORK FOR YOU

If you can breathe then you know what Google is. If you don't know what I'm talking about then ask your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter. It's a great way to bond.

GOOGLE ALERTS

Have you ever used Google Alerts? Many of you probably don't even know what these are and how you can use them. If you have any kind of medical device implanted then email and a Google Alert could be your best friend.

EMAIL IS A MUST

Do you have an email account? To use this method you will need to have email and be familiar with how to use the Internet. Assuming you use email let's talk about having alerts sent right to your email mail box; alerts you design that search the entire Internet for specific information. You can use AOL, Hotmail or any of the other available browsers.

WHAT IS A GOOGLE ALERT?

Google Alert is an Internet search tool created by the Google Internet Company. To get to the Google Alert page do a general search for 'Google Alert' using the Windows Internet Explorer. The search choices will look something like this.

1. Google Alerts

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. ...
www.google.com/alerts - 6k - Cached - Similar pages -

2. More Google Products

Alerts Get email updates on the topics of your choice ... Add news, games and more to the Google homepage ... Get Google products on your mobile phone ...
www.google.com/options/ - 29k - Cached - Similar pages -
More results from www.google.com »

3. Google Alert - Professional Web Alerts

Monitors professional interests online. Tracks the web for topics and sends new Google results by daily email. Not affiliated with Google.
www.googlealert.com/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages -

SETTING UP AN ALERT THAT YOU DESIGN

Now choose the first one by either clicking right on it or put the cursor over the blue letters, right click and then select 'Open in a new tab.'. A new window will open and you will be presented with a page that looks like this.

	sdlombardi@aol.com | Settings | FAQ | Sign out
	Google Alerts (BETA)

Welcome to Google Alerts Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include: monitoring a developing news story keeping current on a competitor or industry getting the latest on a celebrity or event keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams Create an alert with the form on the right. You can also click here to manage your alerts

Create a Google Alert Enter the topic you wish to monitor. Search terms: Type: News Blogs Web Comprehensive Video Groups How often: as-it-happens once a day once a week Deliver to: sdlombardi@aol.com Feed Google will not sell or share your email address.

Find the box that says 'Search terms:' and next to it is an open box. Now type in the words that describe the implant; including the manufacturer, make and model.

The box underneath is 'How often:' and you will select how frequently you wish to receive updates.

The 'Deliver to:' box is where you will place your email address.

Google will more than likely ask you to first register and as you can see I already have registered using my AOL account.

What this will do is deliver to your email box any information that Google runs across about the medical product that is critical to your health and well being.

Using Google Alerts is one way you can try to stay on top of monitoring FDA Alerts that affect your health. Medical devices aren't all that you can monitor. You can set up alerts for just about anything. Use alerts to monitor the news concerning drugs you take, procedures you're about to undergo, a surgeon who will operate, yours child's school and any other news that relevant to your lifestyle.

We at the InjuryBoard wish you well and encourage you to ask questions whenever you find it helpful.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on March 31, 2009 (boomark / email).