Paul M. Insel,
Stanford University School of Medicine
Walton T. Roth,
Stanford University School of Medicine
General Self-Care Resources
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Consumer Index
(http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer)
Provides consumer information about health care treatments, medications, prevention, and insurance; a printable http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/adguide guide to track personal health information, including preventive screening tests, immunizations, and health-related lifestyle behaviors, is also available at the site. |
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American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
(http://www.aafp.org)
Provides information about specific health topics and flow-charts to aid in self-care decisions. |
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American Association of Retired Persons (AARP): Health and Wellness
(http://www.aarp.org/health)
Provides consumer health information on a variety of topics, including caregiving, health insurance, and general wellness promotion. |
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American Council on Science and Health
(http://www.acsh.org)
Provides consumer education materials relating to food, chemicals, lifestyle, environment, and health. |
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Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Home Medical Guide
(http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/texts/guide/all.html)
Provides the text of a popular home health guide, with chapters on promoting wellness through lifestyle. |
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FDA Consumer Information
(http://www.fda.gov/opacom/morecons.html)
Includes links to FDA information to help consumers make informed health decisions; http://www.fda.gov/fdac/fdachtml.html FDA Consumer magazine is another good resource. |
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Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Protection--Diet, Health, and Fitness
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-health.htm)
Includes online brochures about a variety of consumer health topics, including fitness equipment, generic drugs, and fraudulent health claims. |
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Operation Cure-All
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/cureall/index.html)
Includes links to selected commercial health sites that provide reliable health information as well as tips for avoiding unscrupulous online marketers; consumers can also report health fraud to the FTC online. |
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Health Canada: Health Communication Skills
(http://www.adulthealth.com/hppb/ahi/index.html)
Provides advice for improving patient-physician communication. |
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Healthfinder
(http://www.healthfinder.gov)
A gateway to online publications, Web sites, support and self-help groups, and agencies and organizations that produce reliable health information. |
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MedlinePlus
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus)
Provides access to consumer-oriented health information on a variety of topics. |
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Merck
(http://www.merck.com)
Includes the Health Infopark, which provides information about many common health challenges, and sections from several Merck publications, including their home health guide. |
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National Consumers League
(http://www.nclnet.org)
Provides a variety of brochures on health-related topics, including health care and food and drug safety. |
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National Health Information Center (NHIC)
(http://www.health.gov/nhic)
Helps put consumers in touch with the organizations that are best able to provide answers to health-related questions. |
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National Institutes of Health Consensus Program Information Center
(http://consensus.nih.gov)
Provides guidelines about evaluating and treating various medical conditions. |
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University of Iowa Virtual Hospital
(http://www.vh.org)
A "digital health sciences library" with information and peer-reviewed links on a variety of common health concerns. |
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U.S. Consumer Gateway: Health
(http://www.consumer.gov/health.htm)
A gateway to online government publications relating to health. |
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U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Guide to Clinical Preventive Services
(http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/texts/gcps)
A major report on the scientific basis and cost-effectiveness of interventions for many potentially preventable diseases and conditions. |
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WebMD Self-Care Advisor
(http://my.webmd.com/self_care)
Includes articles from The American Institute for Preventive Medicine's Self-Care: Your Family Guide to Symptoms and How to Treat Them, including sections on acne, asthma, heartburn, insect stings, nosebleeds, and snoring. |
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HealthSquare Drug Information Center
(http://www.healthsquare.com/drugmain.htm)
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Healthtouch (click on Medication Guide)
(http://www.healthtouch.com)
For additional information go to http://www.mayohealth.org Mayo Health (click on Drug Information) |
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MedicineNet (click on Medications)
(http://www.medicinenet.com)
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MedlinePlus Drug Information
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html)
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Medscape (Register as a user [free], and then search "Drugs.")
(http://www.medscape.com)
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Your Medicine
(http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/safemeds/safemeds.htm)
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Consumer Information Center: Health (Review the listings for Drugs and Health Aids.)
(http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/health.htm)
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National Consumers League: Food and Drug Interactions
(http://www.nclnet.org/fooddruord.html)
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Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program
(http://www.nabp.net/vipps)
To determine if an online pharmacy has been certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). |
Health Care System and Health Insurance
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Consumer Index
(http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer)
Provides consumer information and guidelines for choosing quality health care and insurance. |
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American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC
(http://www.urac.org)
Provides information and ratings about health insurance plans. |
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American Association of Health Plans (AAHP)
(http://www.aahp.org)
An industry association that supports managed-care health plans; site includes a consumer section with information on choosing health care plans and fact sheets on specific health topics. |
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Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century
(http://www.nationalacademies.org/webextra/chasm)
A report by the Institute of Medicine that outlines some of the problems and some of the possible solutions relating to the quality of U.S. health care. |
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Electronic Policy Network Idea Center/Health Policy Page
(http://www.movingideas.org/ideas/subjects/health-1.html)
A "virtual" magazine with articles on managed care, the uninsured, the future of Medicare, and other issues. |
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Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(http://cms.hhs.gov)
Provides information, statistics, and other material on http://www.medicare.gov Medicare, Medicaid, and the http://www.insurekidsnow.gov Children's Health Insurance Program. |
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Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations: Quality Check
(http://www.jcaho.org/qualitycheck/directry/directry.asp)
Provides information and ratings about health insurance plans. |
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National Coalition on Health Care
(http://www.nchc.org)
An advocacy group working to improve U.S. health care. |
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National Committee for Quality Assurance: Health Plan Report Card
(http://hprc.ncqa.org/index.asp)
Provides information and ratings about health insurance plans. |
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NGA Center for Best Practices: SCHIP
(http://www.nga.org/center/topics/1,1188,D_403,00.html)
This site provides information on the State Children's Health Insurance Program from the National Governor's Association. |
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Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force: Health Quality
(http://www.consumer.gov/qualityhealth/index.html)
Provides consumer-oriented information about choosing an appropriate health care provider and plan. |
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Washington Business Group on Health
(http://www.wbgh.com)
An organization that analyzes national health policy and related worksite issues from the perspective of large employers. |
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World Health Organization: World Health Report 2000
(http://www.who.int/whr)
Focuses on health systems around the world and includes information on per capita health care spending around the world |
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education