Island Resident to Help Patients Navigate the Web with New Book

A former TV producer, web entrepreneur and now leukemia survivor, Island resident Andrew Schorr has published his first book about his experience of dealing with a life-threatening illness in the Internet Age.

“The Web-Savvy Patient: An Insider’s Guide to Navigating the Internet When Facing a Medical Crisis” is gleaned from his own experiences as a patient and a web entreprenuer, plus interviews from hundreds of patients, physicians and medical experts. Schorr — who will host a reading/signing with the author and other medical experts at at 7 p.m., April 15 — said the book is designed to help individuals gather credible information on their ailment from legitimate sources on the web. 

“Nowadays when people go to their doctor, they reach into their briefcase and pull out 50 pages of online research on their diagnosis,” said Schorr. “But most doctors don’t have time to go through those pages to see which parts are real and which aren’t. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff, in terms of finding reliable, accurate information and how do you use that information for better health care? That’s what this book is about.”

Best known for his work with the nationally-produced Evening Magazine — which continues today on King5 hosted by fellow Islander Meeghan Black —  Schorr later founded the health advice website HealthTalk.com and the Patient Empowerment Network. He said he hopes his book reaches audiences both online and off-line — explaining how to find reliable medical information online, it also helps you find support groups for people with your same diagnosis, and gives tips on using that information with your physician and finding the best treatment options available.

“When I was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1996, I had no idea where to find the information I needed. A friend, David Nudelman, came over to my home and helped me find other people with Leukemia, and directed me (online) to a cancer center in Houston that was doing a drug trial that ultimately saved my life; there’s no sign of leukemia in my body and I don’t take any medications now.”

His work on Healthtalk.com, as well as writing as health columnist for Empowher.com, has provided Schorr with decades of experience in helping the American healthcare consumer become a more knowledgable about their condition and treatments.

“When I was at the watching a basketball game, there was a guy who went on the Internet when he was having a heart attack,” said Schorr. “That was not the time to use the web for information.”

All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Schorr family’s Patient Empowerment Network, a non profit organization that gives lectures on empowering the American healthcare consumer, and which rates doctors, hospitals and clinics as to their level of quality patient care and treatment specialties. For more information check http://www.patientpower.info.