Consumer Health Information

Software applications or web sites providing a wide range of health information to consumers - whether they be patients, family members, or their health care providers.

See the following -

My Family Health Portrait

My Family Health Portrait - This public domain web-based tool distributed by the U.S. Surgeon General's office helps users organize family history information, save it to their personal computer,  and then print it out for presentation to their family doctor.

My HealtheVet

My HealtheVet is the VA's Personal Health Record. It was designed for Veterans, active duty Servicemembers, their dependents and caregivers. My HealtheVet helps you partner with your health care team. It provides you opportunities and tools to make informed decisions. Read More »

myDrugCosts

myDrugCosts is a web-based health nformation platform that empowers patients to make better decisions about purchasing prescription drugs. myDrugCosts can help patients and doctors confer on what drug choices make the most sense financially. Read More »

Next Generation "Social Health" Information Systems

"Social networking" websites like Facebook are now being used regularly by hundreds of millions of people around the world to connect with each other. "Social commerce" web sites like Groupon have now emerged connecting consumers with local stores and national supply chains. What's next?  Look for next generation "social health" information web sites. Read More »

NHS Choices

NHS Choices is the online 'front door' to the U.K. government's National Health Service (NHS). It is the country's biggest health website and gives all the information consumers need to make choices about their health - from decisions about one's lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking and exercise, to finding and using NHS services across England.

NIHSeniorHealth.Gov

NIHSeniorHealth.Gov provides health and wellness information for older adults from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This website opens the valuable resources of the NIH to great numbers of people over 60 who use the Internet to learn more about their health and aging.

OrganizedWisdom

OrganizedWisdom is a company aggregates, organizes, and promotes online wisdom and knowledge shared across the web by more than 5,000 vetted health and wellness experts. Thousands of health practitioners, and people with useful health wisdom and knowledge contribute to the site by blogging, participating in public forums, and sharing links. Read More »

RehabInfo.Net

RehabInfo.net is a comprehensive guide to the entire Behavioural Health & Rehabilitation treatment process – from spotting issues to finding and enrolling into rehabilitation. It also serves as an extensive educational resource that includes up to date statistics, policy and regulation information as well as a section on careers in the industry. Read More »

Self Service Healthcare is Thriving

...In other words, self care is thriving. Using a PC, laptop, or smartphone patients can now access a host of healthcare information and services online from anywhere they might be. Using any one of these devices, they have ready access to online health information about symptoms, drugs, treatment options, healthcare facilities, and much more. In addition to PHR systems, mobile apps tailored to your particular health situation or wellness objectives abound. Free open source software tools exist to help predict longevity, assess susceptibility to strokes or heart attack. In addition to health educational materials, there are now health egames that make learning more enjoyable for patients of all ages. Prescription refills can be done online and the medication will be delivered to your home. New self care, self education, self examination, and self treatment are emerging in ever greater frequency...

Read More »

ShareCare

Sharecare is one of the leading online health and wellness engagement platform providing millions of consumers with a personal, results-oriented experience by connecting them to the most qualified health resources and programs they need to improve their health. This free online web site was created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Read More »

Social Networking & Health Care Systems

Social networking has created new ways to communicate and share information and have become a part of everyday life for many people. Social networks are now beginning to be adopted by healthcare organizations as a means to better manage institutional knowledge, disseminate peer to peer knowledge, and to reach out and better serve their patients. Read More »

The Social Life of Health Information, 2011

Susannah Fox | PewInternet | May 12, 2011

The internet has changed people’s relationships with information. Our data consistently show that doctors, nurses, and other health professionals continue to be the first choice for most people with health concerns, but online resources, including advice from peers, are a significant source of health information in the U.S. Read More »

USA.GOV Mobile Apps

The U.S. government has an online app store offering a wide range of free mobile apps that are in the public domain. These include mobile health apps that can be found at USA.Gov Mobile Apps

Why Should Consumers Care About 'Open Health' Software Solutions

Health care provider organizations and computer specialists have begun to understand the benefits of using 'open' health IT solutions. However, most consumers still have no clue why this should be of any concern to them. Here are some key points that need to be communicated to health care consumers: Read More »

YourGenome.Org

YourGenome.Org is a website intended to help people understand genetics and genomic science and the implications for us all. The site was establishe by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Europe's largest genome centre located near Cambridge in the U.K. Read More »