FREE & RELIABLE Consumer Health Information
Web Sites and Access to Newspapers & Magazines
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GENERAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Links are ordered from those with the most comprehensive content to more specific:
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MEDLINEplus Comprehensive source of health and wellness information from the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health; has many features, including medical encyclopedia and dictionary, current news, & interactive tutorials and surgery videos. |
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MayoClinic.com Information on diseases & conditions, medications, healthy living, and health assessment; features "Find It Fast" button to look up a disease or condition, a symptom, or access first aid information; also has "Ask a Specialist" section. |
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FamilyDoctor.org From the American Academy of Family Physicians, search for medical information by condition or age/gender; features helpful healthy living, smart patient and over-the-counter guides. |
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Healthfinder, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Developed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this site links to health and medical information from over 1,500 health-related organizations websites. |
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NOAH: New York Online Access to Health Search variety of health topics and resources in English or Spanish. |
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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Browse "Popular Health Topics" to find information about types of complementary and alternative medicine and their relationship to the treatment of conditions and diseases. |
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Lab Tests Online Resource focusing on information about clinical lab tests; searchable by test, conditions/diseases or age. |
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Innerbody - Human Anatomy Online Interactive diagrams of the systems of the human body; excellent reference site to learn more about descriptions of medical conditions. |
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DIRLINE Search National Library of Medicine's online directory of health organizations, research centers and research projects. |
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Toll-Free Numbers for Health Information Selected toll-free numbers for organizations providing health-related information, education, and support from the National Health Information Center. |
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ClinicalTrials.gov From the National Institutes of Health, provides current information about clinical research studies. |
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National Institute of Mental Health This branch of the National Institutes of Health is the lead Federal agency for research on mental and behavioral disorders. Search"Mental Health Topics" for descriptions of mental disorders and treatments, and to locate mental health services, affordable healthcare, & NIMH clinical trials. |
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Mental Health America Search information by audience, issue or disorders & treatments. Addresses all aspects of mental health and mental illness with information on advocacy, education, research and service. |
DRUG INFORMATION
Links are ordered from those with the most comprehensive content to more specialized
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Drug Digest |
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Office of Dietary Supplements From National Institutes of Health, an overview of dietary supplements; under "Health Information" find helpful fact sheets for specific vitamins, minerals, & botanicals; section on warnings and safety information. |
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Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration's information about the products they regulate, including new prescription and over-the-counter drug approvals, drug safety and side effects, and public health alerts. |
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Prescription Drug Price Website From NYS Attorney General's Office, compares prices for 150 commonly prescribed prescription drugs at various pharmacies in New York State. Search by city, county or zip code. |
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Partnership for Prescription Assistance Find how individuals without prescription coverage can qualify and obtain the medicines they need through public and private programs. |
PHYSICIAN, HOSPITAL, CARE OPTION & INSURANCE INFORMATION
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MedlinePlus Directories: |
Doctors
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DoctorFinder Professional information on American Medical Association's licensed physicians in the United States and its possessions. Searches may also be made for non-AMA members. |
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NYS Physician Profile NYS Department of Health lists profiles of all licensed doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy registered in New York State; includes board certification, education, practice information, legal actions, professional activities, and physician statements. Note: Legal action is self-reporting on this site. Go to the Professional Misconduct and Physician Discipline search that is next on this list. |
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Professional Misconduct and Physician Discipline NYS Office investigates complaints about physicians, physician assistants and specialist assistants and monitors practitioners who have been placed on probation; Look up health professionals by name, license number, license type or date. |
Hospitals & Clinics
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Hospital Compare US Dept. of Health & Human Services provides hospital information on adult patient services, including hospital contact information, comparisons of hospitals, quality measures, questions to consider before going to a hospital, and patient rights. |
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NYS Hospital Profile NYS Department of Health provides information about hospitals in New York State and the quality of care they provide. |
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Nursing Home Locator Easy-to-use county locator for finding nursing facilities; includes guidelines for selecting a nursing home; info from New York State Health Facilities Organization. |
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Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator Find drug and alcohol treatment programs nearest you. |
Health Plans/Insurance
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Health Insurance Programs NYS Department of Health provides links to health assistance programs and services. |
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Interactive New York Consumer Guide to HMO's Easy-to-read tables comparing HMO performance and premiums, historical complaint data and tips on how to choose an HMO. |
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services From the Department of Health & Human Services, information on Medicare and Medicaid including, but not limited to information on eligibility, coverage, and health plans. |
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NYS Addiction Services HOPEline Find help for Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Problem Gambling. Call 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) |
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AIDSinfo |
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American Dental Association |
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American Heart Association |
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Cancer.gov In-depth treatment section (in Cancer Information); also excellent resource for preventing, detecting and coping with the effects of cancer. |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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Easy-to-Read Health Information in easy-to-understand language from Medline Plus. Includes interactive tutorials and some information in Spanish. |
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration |
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Food and Nutrition Information Center |
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Genetics Home Reference Consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variations on human health. |
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Haz-Map: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents Information about the health effects of exposure to chemicals at work. |
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Health Information Project Top teen-recommended videos, fiction & nonfiction books available through Mid-Hudson Library System public libraries; highest-ranked websites listed. |
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Household Products Database Easy-to-understand information on common household products including their potential health effects and safety and handling information. |
| Internet Safety for Teens - SafeTeens.com Site where teens and their parents can learn safe, civil and responsible use of the Internet. |
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MedlinePlus - Find a Library A list of libraries throughout the country that provide health information services to local residents. |
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MedlinePlus for Low Vision Users Interactive health tutorials and senior health information in large fonts, audio on each page and easy-to-read language. |
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Minority Health & Multi-Cultural Resources for Health Information National Library of Medicine's Outreach Activities and Resources page. Info for individual minority groups and on laws, policies, standards, organizations and portals including refugee portal; includes health resources in many languages. |
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National Institute on Drug Abuse Provides information on drug abuse research with separate sections for students and young adults, parents and teachers, and researchers and health professionals; part of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. |
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National Organization for Rare Disorders Good index of rare diseases. |
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National Women's Health Information Center Health information and referral center for women. Also in Spanish. |
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Other Language Resources Links to useful multilingual online health resources. Organized by specific languages. |
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Senior Health Easily accessible aging-related health information with large print and "talking" function capabilities from the National Institutes of Health. |
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TIME TO ACT Teen Drug and Alcohol Intervention: A step-by-step guide for parents who suspect or know their teens are drinking or using drugs. |
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Smoking Cessation Information (NYS) and How to Quit Links to centers and programs that focus on smoking cessation and self-help information on how to quit. |
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STOP (Stop Ticks on People) Focuses on safe environmental solutions to tick control, reducing the incidence and prevalence of tick-borne disease through education, research and prevention. |
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Travelers' Health Select travel health information according to destination, find out about vaccinations, insect protection, diseases, illness and injury abroad, safe food and water and more from the Centers for Disease Control. |
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Evaluating Health Information Many links from Medline Plus that assist with finding, evaluating and interpreting health information in online and print formats. |
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Evaluating Internet Health Information Tutorial A 16-minute tutorial from the National Library of Medicine. |
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Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online From the Food and Drug Administration, information about buying medicine and other products online including things to watch out for. |
This page last updated 4/6//09.
The above consumer health information sites have been selected and are maintained by the Health Information Project Coordinator. They were compiled with the assistance of Medical Library Association MedWeb training courses, "Consumer Health Information" ,WebMed Training Series, "Consumer Health Information in the Public Library", Health Care Resources on the Internet, edited by M. Sandra Wood, and library health information specialists.