Crowdsourcing diagnosis for patients with undiagnosed illnesses: an evaluation of CrowdMed.

The frequency of missed and delayed diagnoses is stimulating interest in innovative ways of improving the diagnostic process. This study reports on the initial experience of a crowdsourcing approach to diagnosis. Patients with difficult-to-diagnose symptoms accessed an online program where volunteer case solvers—only 58% of whom worked in medicine in any capacity—engaged in discussion with patients and provided diagnostic suggestions. A majority of patients felt the service was useful and about half would recommend the program.