Microsoft Bing takes healthcare search to new heights

Microsoft has added new search features to the healthcare area of its Bing search engine. Using the US Bing home page, end users simply enter a medical condition and receive a highly organised list of links and reference sources that offer information from basic disease definitions to treatments, drugs, related conditions and medical centers.

Microsoft says that  the new search "discovers a relevant document in its library of health resources and presents a smart summary related to the query. In addition, Bing uncovers key related topics by analyzing an index of medical sources and extracting meaningful data automatically. In this case, the user receives instant guidance through short lists of other conditions related to the query...Users may select any of these points of interest to continue their search in a new area."

A search term such as 'heart disease' uncovers numerous ways in which a patient can navigate information uncovered by a simple search.

First of all, Bing returns a definition, along with related conditions, medication and medical centres. 

The uppermost side bar contains links to additional reference information.

Put simply, the site places the individual at the centre of a carefully plotted network of articles that cover pretty much every piece of information they might need to know about their condition.

The level of detail and coordination continues when you drill down further. For example, clicking on the link to Lipitor brings up the following page, again containing carefully organised sources describing side effects, dosages and use of the drug during pregnancy, for example. 

As this screen also shows, Microsoft is pulling information from a number of partners and reference organisations including Gold Standard, Mayo Clinic.com and eatingwell.com. It also draws on technology and information gained from the acquisition of Medstory in 2007.

More information from the Bing blog.