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Although there is no shortage of medical information available on the Internet, there is a shortage of appointment times available to discuss that information with a doctor, and the efforts of a patient researching his or her medical condition online can be a double-edged sword. Philosophically, most healthcare professionals are in favor of increasing patient involvement during the healing process. In practice, the use of the Internet as a diagnostic tool by the patient can at times be a hindrance. According to Kelly Dietrich, a physician practice manager at Physicians of the North Shore in Skokie, IL, more patients are turning to the Internet to learn more about their ailments.