Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Be Suspicious of A-Fib Info on the Internet―Here’s Why
by Steve S. Ryan
When I attend talks at most A-Fib conferences, the first slide a presenter shows is often a list of their Conflicts of Interest. It’s required of all speakers.
But this is not required of websites! Health/Heart-related websites are not required to be transparent and reveal their conflicts of interest.
Drug Industry Owns or Influences Most Heart/Health Web sites
The drug and device industry owns, operates or influences almost every health/heart-related web site on the Internet!
For example, did you know that the drug company Ely Lilly partially owns and operates WebMD, the Heart.org, Medscape.com, eMedicine.com and many other health web sites?
The fact is that most health/heart-related web sites are supported by drug companies who donate most of their funding. Consider how that may affect the information they put on their web sites―they’re not going to bite the hand that feeds them.
VIDEO: Video: Buyer Beware of Misleading A-Fib Information on the Web and in the Media
Beware of misleading and incorrect A-Fib information published by reputable sources on the internet and in print media. Steve S. Ryan, PhD, gives three specific examples of why you need to be on the lookout for inaccurate statements about Atrial Fibrillation. 3:59 min. Go to video.
Be Suspicious of A-Fib Info on the Internet
In our crazy world, you can’t afford to trust anything you read on the Internet.
At one time I tried to keep track of all the mis-information found on various A-Fib web sites. When we’d find something wrong, we would write the site. I don’t think we’ve ever received a reply. Finally, we gave up.
(See my video: Buyer Beware of Misleading or Inaccurate A-Fib Information.)
In today’s world, you have to do your own due diligence.
Many web sites put out biased or mis-information often for financial gains, but sometimes it’s just out-of-date. Be skeptical.
You can tell if someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Truth will out. If you feel uncomfortable or that something is wrong with a site, it probably is. When you find a good site, the truth will jump out at you.
Whenever you visit a heart health-related website, ask yourself: “Who owns this site?” and “What is their agenda?” (Hint: Check their list of “sponsors” and follow the money!)
How Does A-Fib.com Measure Up?
A-Fib Inc. has earned GuideStar’s highest rating, the GuideStar Exchange Platinum Seal, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability in the non-profit world.
Transparency means that anyone can find out what we have been doing, what we have achieved, and how we are doing in achieving our ultimate goals. You can check the A-Fib.com public listing at GuideStar.org.
A-Fib.com has also earned the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) Certification for quality and trustworthiness of medical and health online information.
For more, you can also read the A-Fib.com Disclosures page.
Hint: Check their list of “sponsors” and follow the money!
