Just as medical software has been used to help dermatologists and doctors identify and treat skin diseases more quickly and effectively than in the past, similar programs are helping physicians diagnose stomach ailments in patients. Two married doctors in Oregon, Dr. Shakuntala Krishnamurthy and her husband Dr. Gerbail T. Krishnamurthy, have developed a specialized kind of software that will help patients who are suffering from liver and gallbladder disease – a source of pain for more than 20 million Americans. The computer program, which is FDA approved, helps doctors measure and monitor levels of gallbladder and liver function. With accurate access to such specific information, doctors are better equipped to understand what’s behind a patient’s abdominal aches and pains.

Frequently, the source of stomach pains can flummox and confuse physicians. But with this and other similar types of medical software, the mystery is gone, and patients can receive better and less invasive care. In fact, the software may even help reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries performed – great news for patients (and insurance companies) on both the health and financial fronts. According to Dr. Gerbail Krishnamurthy, close to 1 million people have their gallbladder removed each year. The cost of all those operations? Nearly $6 billion! Now, doctors can determine whether or not the organ actually needs to be removed before proceeding with surgery.

In addition, patients who had unexplained stomach pain that didn’t seem to point to their gallbladder can now receive the care they need. For instance, many patients are mistakenly diagnosed with reflux disease and suffer for years without relief. Now, thanks to the Krishnamurthy-pioneered software, they can have a simple test to determine how well their gallbladder is functioning, and then make the decision to remove it if necessary. Already, these new advances in medical software have greatly benefited patients all over the world who have been struggling with stomach pain in silence.