Did you know?

80% of patients spend 2-5 hours researching online before their hernia repair.¹

Meet Betty*

Betty is 73 and lives in Lima, Ohio. Recently, she's noticed a bulge in her abdomen that pops in and out and is concerned.

Let's walk through Betty's hernia patient journey.

Betty, 73, Hernia Patient

Betty Googles 'stomach bulge.'

Betty researches her symptoms with phrases like “stomach bulge” and “bulge pops in and out."

70% of patients say internet search is their primary research approach.¹

Betty's search brings her to HerniaInfo.com.

Betty clicks on many articles and websites, including HerniaInfo.com. She finds a 'Signs and Symptoms' page that walks through the common symptoms of a hernia. Betty thinks her symptoms may align with a hernia. She decides to call her primary care physician (PCP) for an examination.

Betty has an appointment with her PCP.

Betty is given a physical exam and receives a preliminary diagnosis of a hernia. Her primary care physician recommends seeing a hernia specialist to confirm the diagnosis, for next steps, and treatment options.

"It didn't even occur to me that there were multiple mesh options… I had only discovered this after speaking with my doctor."

- A Ventral Hernia Patient

Betty returns to Hernia Info to use Surgeon Finder.

HerniaInfo.com provides Betty with more information about her diagnosis. The website enables her to find a hernia surgeon with the Surgeon Finder tool. Betty enters her zip code for hernia specialists in her area.

Hernia Info has over 900 US surgeons in its database.

Betty compares the surgeons^† in her area.

Surgeon 1: Dr. Smith

Betty likes that he's the closest in distance, but doesn't like that he doesn't offer a robotic procedure.

Surgeon 2: Dr. Adams

Betty likes that she offers all mesh and surgical options, but she is a bit further away.

Surgeon 3: Dr. Cho

Betty likes the optionality he offers, but is unsure if the hospital system is in her insurance network.

Betty calls the surgeon of her choice directly from Hernia Info.

Once Betty narrows down her choice, she clicks directly on the phone number and calls the surgeon's office to make an appointment.

Today, less than 5% of patients express a strong mesh preference with their surgeons, while around 40% of patients felt uncomfortable and/or unsure how to voice a mesh preference.¹

Betty is ready for her surgeon consultation.

Betty brings a list of questions about hernia surgery, thanks to HerniaInfo.com. After discussing the best course of treatment, Betty is scheduled and ready for surgery.

Will my hernia repair require mesh?

What type of mesh options do I have—synthetic, resorbable, biologic?

What are the potential complications of hernia surgery?

Will I need to stay in the hospital after surgery?

Betty preps for pre- and post-op care.

Betty returns to HerniaInfo.com to learn more about what to expect before, during, and after hernia surgery. After speaking more with her doctor about a typical recovery, she feels prepared and is ready to heal her hernia.

Implement Hernia Info into your practice today.

Hernia Info is a patient education site created to help patients who suspect they may have, or who have been diagnosed with, a hernia learn more about their treatment options.

Hernia Info is not just for patients.

Health care providers can use Hernia Info as a resource themselves, or can share it with their patients to help communicate quality disease-state information. The site aims to empower patients to educate themselves about hernias, their specific diagnosis, and their options.

References

*Betty is a fictional patient created for illustration purposes only.

†Surgeons listed are fictional surgeons created for illustration purposes only.

1. Internal data. Project Reed Patient Survey N = 94; Project Reed Surgeon Survey N = 201