Mayo Foundation President Michael Wood says the Internet will play an increasing role in a person's health care. We believe many patients, when they first perceive something wrong in terms of a symptom or a specific health care problem, will go first to the Internet. They will gain some idea of whether this is something to be concerned about or not. And then they will access a physician. The Mayo Clinic's Health Oasis logs 1.5 million users a month.
Online visitors can learn about medical breakthroughs or read nutritional advice.
All of the Web site's content will be provided by Mayo physicians with the possibility of adding Internet chat sessions moderated by Mayo specialists. Wood won' t say how much Shanby is investing, but he says there's no plan yet for any other outside capital. Mayo's current Web offerings haven't operated in the black since they started in 1995, but Wood says they have met financial projections. Mayo hopes its new service will stand out in an already crowded marketplace. There are an estimated 20,000 health-related information sites on the Internet.