Health Information for Oklahoma Consumers
Resources for Hispanics | Indian Health Service | Resources for Families
Choosing a Doctor | Choosing a Hospital
Choosing a Nursing Home & Home Health Care
Drugs | Getting the Best Care
Specific Health Problems | Complementary & Alternative Health
Research Tips | End-of-Life Planning
*English and Spanish versions available
**en español solomente
Web sites were chosen for their unusual content and authoritative authors.
Resources for Hispanics
*National Alliance for Hispanic Health
http://ww.hispanichealth.org/
The NAHH is the oldest and largest network of U.S. health and human service providers for Hispanic consumers.
*Food and Drug Administration (Spanish-language edition)
http://www.fda.gov/oc/spanish
This is the FDA’s effort to help empower members of the growing Hispanic population to take charge of their own health.
**Su Familia toll-free helpline: 1-866-783-2645. Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday–Friday. After hours, leave voice mail and the helpline will return your call the next business day.
* Su Familia Pregnancy Hotline 1-800-504-7081
www.hispanichealth.org/sufamilia/
These hotlines and Web site are a collaborative effort between the FDA and the NAHH.
Resources for Families
MedlinePlus Children’s Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenshealth.html
Use the “List of all Topics” or alphabet to search. (Some topics are in Spanish)
KidsHealth
www.kidshealth.org
KidsHealth is the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. This award-winning site is created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media.
National Women's Health Information Center
http://4women.gov
Girls’ and Women’s health topics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
U.S. News & World Report on the Best Children’s Hospitals http://www.usnews.com/directories/hospitals/index_html/specialty+ihqpeds
Get to know the best children’s hospitals of the current year according to this reputable news magazine.
Choosing a Doctor
Information about physicians is becoming more and more available. It is, however, still quite controversial. For example, malpractice information can be very misleading because some specialties are riskier than others and some doctors are willing to take on high-risk patients, while others are not. With that caveat, it can be useful to be able to find biographical information, languages spoken, training and whether or not physicians have updated their credentials.
Call the American Board of Medical Specialties at 800-733-2267 and/or the American Medical Association at 312-464-5000 for information on training, specialties and board certification.
The Association of State Medical Board Executives maintains DocFinder Web site found at http://www.docfinder.org/. Oklahoma is one of the participants in this Web site.
(From: John H Sutton “Physician data profiling proliferates” Bulletin of American College of Surgeons; v. 86, #5 pp.20-.)
The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Specialists (r610.2573 O32)
Online at http://www.certifacts.org/
This reference book provides biographical information for board certified physicians nationwide.
Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision Search (http://www.docboard.org/ox/) This Web site provides the same basic information as the book listed above.
Vertical File for “Oklahoma—Medicine” Recent articles from local periodicals are collected in this file.
Health Grades (http://www.healthgrades.com) Basic Information on physicians, hospitals and nursing homes in specific U. S. cities, and a very basic evaluation (1-5 star rating) of hospitals' performance in various specialties is free on this Web site. For a fee, you can get detailed evaluations of physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Scroll down within http://www.HealthGrades.com to find related articles and directories (lists of relevant Web sites by category).
Choosing a Hospital
Hospital Compare (http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov) This Web site allows you to select hospitals and compare them on their performance on specific medical procedures.
U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals
The U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals rankings cover 170 hospitals in 16 adult specialties. Unranked hospitals in this specialty are listed in alphabetical order after the ranked hospitals.
Two points of view:
Comparing hospitals may not be helpful since there are so many variables and many hospitals do not keep or report relevant statistics. It is hard to believe, however, that hospitals where certain medical procedures are preformed often would not do a better job in those specific procedures. The best course is probably to be skeptical of ratings and ask questions.
Choosing Nursing Homes & Home Health Care
* Medicare.gov - Nursing Home Compare (http://www.medicare.gov/NHcompare/) The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.
Find a Nursing Home - Compare Reports - UCompareHealthCare (http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/) The purpose of this free Web site is to provide individuals with information that can lead to more informed decisions.
Drugs
Your doctor and pharmacist can be good sources of information on this topic.
Oklahoma State Drug Card (http://www.oklahomadrugcard.com/index.php)
As a resident of Oklahoma, you and your family have access to a Prescription Drug Card program. Simply download your Prescription Drug Card and receive savings of up to 75% at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies.
AARP Guide to Pills (r615.1 A113) is easy to use and understand. It provides a list of things your doctor should know before prescribing each drug. The book also discusses drug interactions and side effects. The preface is an excellent guide to buying and using prescription, nonprescription and generic drugs.
* Consumer Reports Health (http://www.consumerreports.org/health/bestbuy-drugs.htm) this is a free public-education Web site. View a video about using the Web site and speaking with your doctor. Search by condition or drug name. The Web site also covers natural alternatives.
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide: The Safe Way to Use Medications and Supplements Together (615.7045 G914e) This guide profiles 300 supplements and gives vital information regarding potentially dangerous interactions, possible side effects, and typical dosages.
The Essential Medication Guidebook to Healthy Aging (r615.547 E78) The information in this book is about the same as that in the AARP Guide to Pills (see above), however it is organized by medical condition. General information includes “How growing older may affect the way medications work,” “Using over-the-counter medications” and more.
Pharmacy Checker (http://pharmacychecker.com) allows you to save money safely on prescriptions by comparing prices and rating pharmacies. (Verified by pharmacychecker.com)
The Federal Drug Administration’s Web site MedWatch.com (www.fda.gov/medwatch.com)
explains drug safety.
Institute for Safe Medical Practices (http://www.ismp.org/) Learn about safe practices and sign up for a free newsletter at this Web site.
Getting the Best Care
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (http://www.ahrq.gov) is under the Health and Human Services Department of the federal government. This agency has information for consumers and practitioners. At the Web site, type “medical errors” in the search box to find tips on how to prevent medical errors in adults and children.
Defend Yourself: How to Protect Your Health, Your Money and Your Rights
(349.73 G824d) This is a legal guide to help protect your rights.
FDA Consumer Magazine (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/default.htm) This U. S. Food and Drug Administration magazine should be useful to anyone looking for consumer health information.
LabTests Online (http://labtestsonline.org) This is a unique, free product designed to provide patients and caregivers with quality, current, readable information on the many clinical tests that are used to diagnose and determine treatment for various diseases and conditions. Use a general keyword search or pull-down menus to locate particular tests, diseases/conditions or screening age groups.
National Association of Dental Plans Directory (http://www.nadp.org) Search for a Dental Plan in Oklahoma using this free directory.
Specific Health Problems
Tulsa Organizations and Services (http://tulsalibrary.org/tos) is Tulsa City-County Library’s home-grown database of local not-for-profit organizations. Search TCCL’s Web site (tulsalibrary.org) or call AskUs Hotline at TCCL (549-7323) for local support groups.
Genetics Home Reference (http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/ghr/) Genetics Home Reference provides information on the effects of genetic variations on human health. Find a genetics specialist in your area; search the “Genetic Disorders A to Z”, the “Concepts and Tools” databases and much more. (Web site created and maintained by the National Library of Medicine).
Go Ask Alice! - Columbia University's Health Q&A Internet Service (http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu) Get all your most difficult questions answered on this reliable Web site.
Dialysis Facility Compare (http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/) This Web site provides important information and resources for patients and family members who want to learn more about chronic kidney disease and dialysis. (This is a U.S. Department of Health Web site).
Healthfinder.gov — Medicare Personal Plan Finder (http://www.healthfinder.gov) This tool will provide you with a list of Medicare health plan choices in the geographic area you specify, along with benefit descriptions and other information to help you choose the plan that’s best for you.
Medline-Plus (http://medlineplus.gov) This government Web site is one of the best. Search for specific health topics or drug and supplement names. There is also a medical encyclopedia; a medical dictionary; directories of doctors, dentists and hospitals; local resources; the latest news; and other resources (including libraries local to you). Print or email articles to yourself or a friend.
National Mental Health Information Center (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/) This site offers a comprehensive collection of secure and rapid links to various topic-related resources, including funding sources. Statistics are also offered.
Healthfinder.gov (http://healthfinder.gov) is a Web site with an extensive searchable database of reliable online health publications, clearinghouses, Web sites, self-help groups, government agencies academic centers, and nonprofit organizations. (This is a U.S. government Web Site)
Complementary & Alternative Health
* Herbal Safety (http://www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/ ) This free Web site has three unusual characteristics: it is maintained by a major university (not a commercial firm); it has information in English and Spanish; and it focuses on herbs used at the US-Mexican border.
PDR for Herbal Medicine (r615.321 P299) This book includes an alphabetical list of drugs and an index on drug/herb Interactions.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines (http://nccam.nih.gov) is a government Web site from the National Institutions of Health. The Web site provides a thorough review of complementary and alternative medicine. Browse through a list of treatments for health concerns; an explanation of various treatments; and learn how to select a practitioner.
The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions (r615.535 N2191) Use the A to Z listing of “Health Concerns” in Part 1 of this book to learn what nutritional supplements, herbs and drugs might be helpful. Part 2 covers nutritional supplements and herbs.
Research Tips
The University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center Library (918-660-3220) located at 4502 E. 41st St., Tulsa, OK is open to the public for research.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/index.htm) Your source for accurate health information on the web. Free, full-text publications are available on many medical topics.
MedBioWorld (http://www.sciencekomm.at) This is a free, handy Web site with a lot of well-organized, practical information for students, physicians, and other health professionals at all levels. One section deals with certification of various medical specialists. The leading journals in over 80 specialties are identified and breaking news can be accessed by specialty. Free sign-in is required to look up articles.
End-of-life planning
Oklahoma Palliative Care Resource Center (http://okpalliative.nursing.ouhsc.edu) The Institute of Medicine (1997) defined palliative care as care which “seeks to prevent, relieve, reduce, or soothe the symptoms of disease or disorder without trying to cure the patient. The OPCRC Web site is a resource for anyone needing emotional, physical and/or spiritual care during medical treatment at any time of life.
Making treatment decisions for yourself at the end of life often requires planning ahead. OPCRC Web site is the place to find out how to make your end-of-life wishes known. The legal tools are:
- Advance Directive for Health Care;
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care;
- Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent; and
- Guardianship of the Person.
All of these forms are available on the OPCRC Web site. Some are also available at Tulsa City-County Library’s Research Center (Central Library, 4th floor).
Guardianship forms for Oklahoma can be found on Oklahoma State Courts Network-FORMS. Scroll down to #13.