Crowdiagnosis project

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Crowdiagnosis
Introduction
Guide
Template
Topics
Checklist

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mugilan Poongkunran M.B.B.S [2]; Vendhan Ramanujam M.B.B.S [3]

Overview

Common diseases occur commonly. Indeed we often teach medical students "if you hear hoof beats it is a horse not a zebra". But for some patients, the diagnosis escapes clinicians, and they are one of those few "zebras".

The goal of the Crowdiagnosis Project (AKA Operation Zebra, or ZebraMed) is to help those patients and doctors who face a rare diagnosis. For 8 years now, the WikiDoc team has been creating a database that contains the largest repository of causes of all symptoms. For all symptoms and signs we display an intensively researched list of all causes that has been vetted by numerous physicians.

Statement of Need

There are many lists of "differential diagnosis", but many of them are incomplete. The This is the ultimate list of all those lists.

  • The need for a compilation of all causes of various medical symptoms, signs and diseases for all people to have access to
  • The need for a resource with an extensive collection of both common as well as rare causes of medical conditions
  • The need for a collection that is presented in a easily searchable form
  • The need for a database to develop an artificial intelligence program for medical professionals to identify the underlying disease in a patient with multiple symptoms

This project will meet the above needs by

  • Collecting all causes from an extensive search of every possible trusted scholarly resources by involving many expertise
  • Creating the first well structured compilation of causes, which is made accessible in the most easily searchable form under categories like life threatening causes, common causes, causes by organ system and causes in alphabetical order. For example, if a rheumatologist is working up a patient for a case of pericarditis, he/she can simply look for all the possible causes of pericarditis in the rheumatology section without having to go through hundreds of causes to find it.
  • Having all the spreadsheets created while working on the project amassed together to form a large database that will be useful to develop the artificial intelligence

How Can WikiDoc Meet these Needs

WikiDoc comprises of chief, deputy, associate and assistant editors with prior expertise in medical education and training in various specialties. We have initiated the differential diagnosis project along with many remote contributors with adequate skills from different parts of the world in the most systematic way to create the comprehensive causes list. By having a global expertise contribution, the project ensures that all the possible causes for a condition are included. It is made accessible in the most easily searchable form to any viewer that includes patients and medical professionals.

How Can You Help WikiDoc Meet These Needs

This project is intended for editors at an Assistant Editor-in-Chief level or higher. This may be the right project for you if you are a medical student, intern, resident, fellow, attending physician, academic hospitalist, specialist, medical faculty and researcher. WikiDoc gladly welcomes your involvement as an editor, contributing to this pioneer project. It can be done both on site and remotely after selecting your topic from our extensive list.


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