On Line Health Resources For Health Professionals and Consumers

The author of this page does not attempt to evaluate information on any of these sites, but simply believes they might be helpful to some of his students. Little attempt has been made to group them, because there is so much overlapping of categories. Hopefully, they are useful starting places for online student research on class projects . Suggested additions or recommended deletions are always welcomed.

EVALUATION OF WEBSITES

www.healthscout.com helps you select better sites. This site is one that uses the Honor Code of Conduct for medical and health sites, as follows:

1. Authority: Any advice provided will be from medically trained and qualified professionals, unless clearly identified as being from a non-qualified source.

2. Complementarities: Information provided is intended to complement the physician/patient relationship, not replace it.

3. Confidentiality: Legal standards will be honored or exceeded.

4. Attribution: Sources of data will be displayed, as will the date the page was last updated.

5. Justifiability: Claims related to purported benefits of services or products will be supported by appropriately balanced evidence.

6. Transparency of authorship: The author’s name and email address will be clearly displayed.

7. Transparency of sponsorship: Organizations providing funding, materials or services for the web site will be clearly displayed.

8. Honesty in advertising and editorial policy: These policies will be displayed on the website.

www.ihealthcoalition.org The Internet Health Care Coalition provides this site to assist users to evaluate health information on the web.

EVALUATION OF HEALTH MATERIAL ON THE WEB RESOURCES

www.fda.gov Information of prescription drugs, generics, medical devices, food safety, and dietary supplements.

www.ifccfbi.gov FBICenter that investigates internet fraud, including but limited to health matters.

www.ncahf.org National Council Against Health Fraud site, with many useful materials.

www.quackwatch.com A guide to intelligent decision making on health related matters, with much information on fraudulent practices.

www.ftc.gov Federal Trade Commission site that deals with interstate commerce, including but not limited to health fraud. Opportunity exists to file a complaint online. Has a section on “amazing claims”. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/fitness/coninfo.html

www.fraud.org NationalFraudInformationCenter, focuses on internet fraud. Opportunity exists to file online complaint.

www.cfsan.fda.gov FDA sponsored site on food safety and applied nutrition. Has section on consumer advice.

www.bbb.com The Better Business Bureau provides consumer information, the opportunity to check out a company or file a complaint.

http://www.cdc.gov/hoax%5frumors.htm Health related hoaxes and rumors site, sponsored by the Centers for Disease promotion and prevention.

http://www.bcbsm.com/antifraud A site designed to protect against fraud by encouraging anonymous reporting.

http://www.ncahf.org The National Council Against Health Fraud posts a great deal of information, often with useful recommendations. It also includes a search option.

www.consumerlab.com A useful site to search for reports on fraudulent products.

PERSONAL HEALTH RESOURCES

www.lungusa.org This American Lung Association site includes information on tobacco control, air quality, research and statistics on lung diseases.

www.healthresourcepartners.org This site focuses on healthcare staffing and training issues.

www.healthfinder.gov Maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services. An excellent site for information on many topics.

www.familydoctor.org A searchable library sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

www.cdc.gov Offers information on bioterrorism, diseases, international travel, and other health issues.

www.medscape.com A large collection of peer reviewed articles.

.www.mln.hih.gov/medlineplus National Library’s Consumer focused directory.

www.aoa.dhhs.gov Administration on Aging site with related materials.

www.nhlbi.gov National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, with related materials.

www.nimh,nih.gov National Institute of Mental Health, with related materials.

www.nih.gov National Institute of Health, with related materials.

www.nlm.nih.gov National Library of Medicine, with related materials.

www.samhsa.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with related materials.

www.dhhs.gov US Department of Health & Human Services, with related materials.

www.nida.nih.gov National Institute of Drug Abuse, with related materials.

www.americanheart.org American Heart Association, with related materials.

www.ama-assn.org American Medical Association, with related materials

www.apa.org American Psychological Association

www.who.int World Health Organization, with materials on international health issues.

www.medicare.gov Medicare, with a variety of materials related to health care for the aged in America. Also now includes data on the quality of individual nursing homes.

www.pharma.org This is a web site for information about pharmaceuticals and related issues.

www.rxassist.org Compilation of application criteria and forms used by health care providers applying for free pharmaceuticals for qualified patients.

www.lcweb.loc.gov Library of Congress web site.

www.mimh.edu Missouri Institute of Mental Health web site, with related materials.

www.nmha.org National Mental Health Association web site, with related materials

www.ahealthyme.com A good general site with current materials and links, produced by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

www. chid.nih.gov Combined Health Information Data Base site is a good starting point in a search for health information.

www.cbs.medscape.com A Consumer oriented web site with information on current topics.

www.healthatoz.com A free service for health consumers and professionals with many links to other sites.

www.intellihealth.com This site is an Aetna Company, and has a great deal of useful, credible health information and links.

www.mayohealth.org Information on topics of current interest, backed by the credibility of the Mayo Clinic.

www.eatright.org A credible source for nutritional information, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association.

www.unaids.org United Nation Program on HIV/Aids site.

www.drkoop.com A general health site, hosted by a former Surgeon General of the US. Includes a Medical Encyclopedia.

www.webmd.com Web MD contains a great deal of information about diseases, disorders and personal health issues.

www.al-anon-alateen.org Site for spouses and children of alcoholics, with information about problem drinking and helping others.

www.bloodpressure.com Provides patients with up to date and accurate information about blood pressure management and communication with their doctor.

www.algy.com/anxiety This is a self help resource for people suffering from such disorders as phobias, panic attacks, , obsessive-compulsive behavior and generalized anxiety.

www.familydoctor.org American Academy of Family Practice sponsored site, with a wide variety of medical information.

www.depressionfallout.com Useful site, focused on clinical depression.

www.selfesteem.org Site includes useful materials, information and measurement tools.

www.genome.gov Sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute. Contains current materials and links to an evolving topic.

www.ash.org Single focus site that deals with actions, legislative, legal and other, that can be taken to reduce the impact of smoking on health.

www.smokefree.net Antismoking advocacy group with links to others who fight against smoking.

http://www.bam.gov Health topics of interest to youth

www.cdc.gov/global CDC’s Museum page, with items of interest to children and teachers

www.cdc.gov/travel Traveler’s Health information on specific travel destinations.

www.personalpath.com A free health resource with information, record keeping opportunities etc.

www.medlineplus.gov National Library of Medicine…Many resources available.

www.consumeraffairs.com A site with information on unwise health expenditures.

http://www.newsrx.net This site bills itself as the world’s largest health information site. Features daily health in the news stories and research reports.

RESOURCES FOR HEALTH CARE/HEALTH SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

www.protecthealthcare.org Materials on health care issues in the US sponsored by a coalition of national agencies.

www.ahcpr.gov/consumer The web site for the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, part of US Department of Health and Human Services. It includes information about diseases, health plans, medications and quality of care issues.

www.aha.org American Hospital Association, with related materials.

www.apha.org American Public Health Association web site.

www.healthgrades.com Provides information on the quality of hospitals, nursing homes and home health care agencies.

http://nnlm.gov/partners This Partners in Information Access for Public Health Professionals site is a joint effort of several public health agencies, and is intended to be a one stop internet resource site, with links to other significant sites.

www.missouriseniorx.com Web site of pharmaceutical assistance program for qualified seniors.

www.state.mo.us State of Missouri’s official web site.

www.state.ks.org State of Kansas’ official web site.

www.healthchoices.org Designed to help consumers choose a health plan.

www.cmwf.org Browsers can access information on topics such as Medicare, Medicaid, minority health, and health care quality. The Commonwealth Fund is a private Foundation that supports independent research on health and social issues and makes grants to improve healthcare practice and policy,

www.leapfroggroup.org A group of corporations banded to address health concerns of major employers.

www.ahcpr.gov Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, with related materials.

www.hcfa.gov Health Care Financing Administration, with related materials.

www.tricare.osd.mil Military Health Services, with related materials.

www.rwjf.org Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with a variety of reports on health care and health services based on research funded by them.

www.aarp.org Site of the American Association of Retired People, with a section on health issues. This organization usually stays involved with current legislative issues