BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Buoy (www.buoyhealth.com), a digital health tool that helps people from the moment they get sick start their care on the right foot, today announced that it has launched nationwide to stop the all too familiar anxiety spiral that occurs when people feel sick and Google their symptoms online. The free tool, available online and in the iPhone App Store, takes on traditional web symptom checkers by offering a more accurate assessment of what is wrong, as well as tangible options for what to do next, to help consumers quickly and easily embark on the right path to getting better.
“While the internet can be a great resource for a lot of things, the medical information provided by simplistic web symptom checkers is often risky and unreliable,” said Andrew Le, co-founder and CEO of Buoy. “Buoy solves this all too familiar problem by leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms to deliver consumers a more personalized and accurate analysis of what could be ailing them, so they can quickly and easily feel in control of their care.”
Formed by a founding team of Harvard and Rice alums and developed at the Innovation Laboratory at Harvard, Buoy is incredibly easy to use. Designed to feel like you are chatting with a friendly doctor, Buoy starts by greeting consumers and then prompts them through a series of questions to enter their symptoms in detail. Sample questions include, “How long have you been experiencing your cough” or “Any fever today or during the last week or two?”
Buoy’s advanced machine learning algorithm then analyzes the consumer’s inputs in real-time, measuring them against proprietary and granular data, to intelligently decide the most important question to ask next. In just two to three minutes, Buoy gains a detailed and accurate understanding of the consumer’s case, and is able to point the consumer to the appropriate care options. If immediate care is needed, Buoy will present the consumer with different ways to connect with care providers nearby.
“When people are sick, they naturally ask questions and want an expert opinion for what to do next,” said Mr. Le. “So, giving them an accurate analysis is incredibly important. That’s why prior to coming to market, we put Buoy through a battery of quality control tests. In every instance, the tool has delivered unprecedented results. Buoy has accurately analyzed symptoms from the common cold to abdominal pain to how a change in running shoes has created a muscular or skeletal issue. It is the intelligent answer the internet has been looking for.”
In fact, just recently, Buoy conducted another in-depth medical study, where it examined how Buoy interpreted what a cough might mean as compared to the top five web-based symptom checkers in the space. The study examined 100 standardized cases written by physicians, involving thirty-three different diagnoses, with severity ranging from life-threatening (pulmonary embolism) to benign (normal cough). It also looked at prevalence, from rare (histoplasmosis) to common (cold).
The study then ran all 100 test cases through the competitive set to examine accuracy rates against the actual test case diagnoses. The study found that Buoy’s analysis was 92% accurate as compared to WebMD at 56%, Healthline at 53%, Mayo Clinic at 38% and Isabel at 28%.
Despite operating in stealth mode, Buoy has already amassed over 5000 users. The company has raised $3 million dollars in angel investments. For more information on Buoy please visit: www.Buoyhealth.com or download Buoy here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buoy-health-understand-your-symptoms/id1169597328?ls=1&mt=8
About Buoy
Buoy is a free digital health tool that helps people – from the moment they get sick – start their health care on the right foot. Started by a team of doctors and computer scientists working at the Harvard Innovation Laboratory in Boston MA, Buoy was developed in direct response to the downward spiral we’ve all faced when we attempt to self-diagnose our symptoms online. Buoy leverages artificial intelligence – powered by advanced machine learning and proprietary granular data - to resemble an exchange you would have with your favorite doctor – to provide consumers with a real-time, accurate analysis of their symptoms and help them easily and quickly embark on the right path to getting better. Buoy is based in Boston and was founded in 2014. For more information, please visit www.Buoyhealth.com. Buoy can be downloaded here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buoy-health-understand-your-symptoms/id1169597328?ls=1&mt=8
A brief how-to video can be found here: https://youtu.be/bFmldqFtJAE
