Unusual and complex diseases can manifest in multiple ways making them difficult and time-consuming to diagnose. Diana Cleaveland of Massachusetts was told she had a rare condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but she was experiencing symptoms not usually associated with the disease.

She consulted CrowdMed, an online service that for $50, assigns a network of doctors and medical detectives to diagnosis patients. The crowd of experts confirmed her diagnosis, even with her unusual symptoms, and gave her confidence in speaking with her own doctors. 

Jared Heyman founded CrowdMed after his sister spent years shuttling from doctor to doctor before meeting someone who recognized her symptoms. Insurance does not currently cover the cost of seeking help through CrowdMed, but Heyman, argues it can save payers and doctors both time and money. 

The doctors and medical detectives that participate in CrowdMed's network are paid. Dr. Daniel Kraft is one of them, and he says that as doctors have less time to see patients in person, people armed with better information can help guide their care and get better treatment.