Google Brings Medical Expertise to the Knowledge Graph

Watch out WebMD - Google is adding health information to the Knowledge Graph.

According to Google, 1 in 20 searches is for health-related information. Because of this, the search juggernaut is adding health information to the Knowledge Graph to make it easier and quicker for users to find the answers to their important medical-related queries. The health information will be added over the next few days, and will show users typical symptoms, treatments and details on how common the condition is. Moreover, some conditions will include illustrations from licensed medical illustrators. With this information, Google notes that users will have a starting place to do more research around the Web or to ask their doctor additional questions.

"We worked with a team of medical doctors (led by our own Dr. Kapil Parakh, M.D., MPH, Ph.D.) to carefully compile, curate, and review this information," states the company's announcement. "All of the gathered facts represent real-life clinical knowledge from these doctors and high-quality medical sources across the web, and the information has been checked by medical doctors at Google and the Mayo Clinic for accuracy."

Google is quick to note, however, that the search results are not intended as medical advice, as cases can vary in severity from person to person. That said, the information will provide users with knowledge about specific conditions and will make it easier for them to conduct more research.