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==Evaluating Health Information==

Ask Me Three - This site offers three questions you should always ask when talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Deciphering MedSpeak - The Medical Library Association has created these brochures to help you understand medical lingo.

Evaluating Health Information on the Internet - These tips are from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Library.

Evaluating Internet Health Information - This is a 16 minute tutorial designed by the staff at the National Library of Medicine. You need Flash version 6 or above to view it.

Navigating the Maze of Medical Research - The Journal of the American Medical Association has published this guide explaining what those research reports really mean.

QUICK: QUality Information ChecKlist – This clever tip sheet was designed to help kids evaluate the health information they find on the Internet.

Taking Charge of Health Information - Harvard has put together this great site about health information and how to judge what you hear.

Understanding Risk, What Do Those Health Claims Really Mean? - The National Institutes of Health has prepared this great fact sheet on how to understand medical studies and how the information is publicized.

Evaluating Information Found on the Internet - The librarians at Johns Hopkins University offer these tips for checking the quality of health information.

Evaluating Medical Research Findings and Clinical Trials - Don't be fooled by sensational reports in the papers and on television, read this article about sorting out the information.

Evidence Based Medicine - Find out what this is from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Federal Trade Commission Booklets on Health Related Topics - The Federal Trade Commission offers help in choosing such things as exercise equipment, home medical tests, tanning options, and many other products that are heavily advertised.

Figuring Out Health News - Although KidsHealth wrote this specifically for teens, everyone can read it!

How To Evaluate Health Information on the Internet: Questions and Answers - The National Cancer Institute has created this set of questions and answers about health information on the Internet.

Interpreting News On Diet - The Harvard School of Public Health has created this document explaining how research is conducted, and how the news usually presents the reports.

MEDLINEPlus - Evaluating Health Information - The librarians at the National Library of Medicine are continually gathering sites which discuss how to evaluate information in the different health fields.

MEDLINEPlus - Guide to Healthy Web Surfing - The librarians at the National Library of Medicine offer you their tips for quality surfing.

MEDLINEPlus - Health Literacy - More great resources, chosen by librarians at the National Library of Medicine, about the ability to understand health information.

MEDLINEPlus - Understanding Medical Research - At this site, the librarians at the National Library of Medicine give you great clues to understanding those reports about "the latest research".

Miracle Health Claims: Add a Dose of Skepticism - The Federal Trade Commission has created this booklet which offers ways to evaluate health claims.

Online Health Information: Can You Trust It? - The National Institute on Aging presents this information.

An Overview of the Internet - The American Academy of Pediatrics describes what you can find on the Internet (both good and bad) and how to guide your child to do safe surfing.

Research Into What Works Best - The National Institutes of Health have issued this report which compares a number of ways to treat certain problems.

Simple Test Rates Accuracy Of Cancer-Related Web Sites - The American Cancer Society offers this quick, 4 question way, to evaluate the claims of cancer cures.

Ten Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Internet - The NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has issued these guidelines.

Ten Tips for Evaluating Vaccine Information on the Internet - Today's media capabilities and the Internet are wonderful tools for making information widely and rapidly available, but they also make readily available information that is not reviewed for scientific accuracy.

Tips to Evaluate Health Information on the Internet - These are quick tips to help you find quality health information online.

Understanding Medical Research - patientInform.org has arranged with several organizations to make medical literature accessible to patients, see this article and the related one on How To Access Medical Research to read more.

Untangling the Web: How to Find Quality Health Information - The Internet can be a valuable source of health information, but not all sites are equally worthy or reliable. Information on the Web may be incomplete, inaccurate, or overly simplified. This librarian can help you stay on track when looking for quality information.

Users Guide to Finding and Evaluating Information on the Web - The Medical Library Association has prepared this document.

Web Sites You Can Trust - The Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association has prepared this list of the top web sites you can trust.

What Does that Newspaper Article Really Say? - The National Cancer Institute reviews a typical news article and points out clues to the truthfulness.

==Electronic Health Records==

A Personal Health Record (PHR) or Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a repository of your health records maintained electronically and stored so that it can be used by multiple users. As this new trend develops, consumers have the opportunity to start and manage their own electronic health record.  The following are sites that will explain EHR in more detail and get you started:

Dossia - Dossia is working right now with employers to provide workers with a personal health record that they own and control. 

Electronic Health Records - The government center for Medicare and Medicaid provides a definition of a electronic healthcare record.

Google Health  - Check out Google Health’s new website where all your health care information can be managed from one site.

HealthVault   - This site is designed to control your health information.  This free account will help you collect, store and share information. There are many applications to choose from.

MedlinePlus: Personal Medical Records - Medline Plus offers an indepth explanation of a medical or health records and what you need to know.

Personal Health Records - These "Frequently Asked Questions" and answers are from the American Health Information Management Association.

Video on Personal Health Records - Watch this video from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about electronic health records.

Your Personal Health Information: A Guided Tour - Take this guided tour to learn more about how your health information is collected, where it goes, and how it’s used.

==HIPAA: Privacy and Your Health Information==

When you disclose personal medical information to your doctor, dentist or other healthcare professional, how safe is your private information? The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects your individual medical records.  The Privacy Rule took effect on April 14, 2003, with a one-year extension for certain "small plans." It establishes regulations for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient’s medical record or payment history. Learn more about HIPAA and other information about privacy from these sites:

Health Privacy Project – The Health Privacy Project features information on federal and state laws and addresses privacy issues.

How To File A Health Information Privacy Complaint - Learn how to file a health information privacy complaint from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • Office for Civil Rights.

Medical Privacy - The US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights offers brochures and other educational materials regarding privacy rights.

Patient Privacy Rights – Learn more about Patient Privacy and their work in restoring your right to decide who can access and use your health information.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provides information for consumers on all personal records including medical records.

What Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule Do? - The HIPAA Privacy Rule for the first time creates national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information. Learn more from this informative site.
 
The World Privacy Forum - The key area of focus for the World Privacy Forum is in the area of medical privacy, or health care privacy. They  are looking at a range of issues from the networking of electronic health files to DNA to medical identity theft.

==Biomedical Informatics==

BioMedical Informatics –We are experiencing rapid advances in computing and communications technology. Biomedical Informatics is the scientific field that deals with biomedical information, data, and knowledge – their storage, retrieval and optimal use for problem solving and decision making.  Either as a patient or professional, the process of informed decision making is important.  Here are some sites that help explain this new field of science.

Consolidated Health Informatics - The United States Office of Health and Human Services offers information on Consolidated Health Informatics.  This is a collaborative effort to adopt health information interoperability standards, particularly health vocabulary and messaging standards, for implementation in federal government systems.

Health Information Technology - Health information technologies can be tools that help individuals maintain their health through better management of their health information.

Health Informatics World Wide  -  Health Informatics World Wide is a regularly updated index of the most relevant links to websites on Health Informatics. Learn more about the many facets of health informatics from this site.

Public Health Informatics - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers a site on public health informatics.