| How
can I find health information on the Internet? You may want
to start by looking at these sites:
www.healthfinder.gov
This site links you to many well-respected sources of
health information on the net.
www.nlm.nih.gov
This site will let you search medical literature using
the National Library of Medicine online. It also provides
medical dictionaries, links to health topics and organizations.
www.dhhs.gov/kids
This site is a great start for children’s surfing
on health topics.
Where
can I access the Internet?
Check with your local Library. Many public libraries provide
computers and internet access.
The Health
Information Center at Marquette General Hospital has a
computer with a large amount of health information and Internet
access. Call 225-4950 or 1-880-562-9753 ext 4950 to find out
more about this service.
How
can I evaluate a website? Use
caution when you read information on the web. A website can
change information quickly, so what you see today may be different
than what you see tomorrow. Paying attention to the following
will help you and your doctor know how to evaluate
the information:
What
is the source of the information?
.com
These
sites are commercial sites, and are supported by selling products
or advertising space. They may or may not be reputable, you
should find out more about the source of the information provided.
Some excellent examples of .com sites are:
intellihealth.com
sponsored by JohnsHopkins University
drkoop.com
founded by Dr. C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. Surgeon General.
Both
of these .com sites list the source of information provided,
such as the Journal
of the American Medical Association or the American
Heart Association, so you know the information is credible.
Your doctor can help you decide if the information applies
to you or your family.
.edu
These
sites are sponsored by a university or other educational group.
These sites are often very reliable sources of information,
and your doctor can help you decide if the information applies
to you. A good example is:
cancer.med.upenn.edu
This site is known as Oncolink, and gathers together the latest
expert opinions on cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
It offers professional and consumer level information from
the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.
.gov
These
are sites sponsored by the federal government, and include
some of the best and most reliable sources of information,
plus links to many other credible sites.
.org
These are sites sponsored by non-profit organizations. There
are many excellent examples. Here are a few:
www.mgh.org
This is the Marquette General
Health System website with regional information on services,
providers, events, and links to our area. You can see the
babies born recently, read about fitness activities, find
out about upcoming conferences, look for a doctor in your
town, and read about healthy menus.
www.diabetes.org
Go to the American Diabetes Association site to find the Tip
of the Day and the Recipe of the Day, as well and general
information on diabetes and self-care.
www.americanheart.org
The American Heart Association website gives the latest information
on heart disease, prevention, and treatments.
www.cancer.org
The American Cancer Society gathers expert advice on cancer
prevention, screening and treatment, as well as guidance for
living with cancer, and support for the patient and family.
www.familydoctor.org
American Academy of Family Physicians posts lots of information
on a wide variety of health topics.
www.nmss.org
This is an example of a disease-specific site. The National
Multiple Sclerosis Society posts general information and reliable
research updates, as well as support. There are many other
disease-specific sites sponsored by well respected organizations.
What
date was the information posted?
Does
the site make claims about your health without knowing you
and your situation?
Does
the site suggest you discuss the information with your doctor
who knows you?
|
Education (CME)
Knowledge (MGHS)
