LINKS TO INFORMATION

Located in Charlotte, NC

INFORMATION SITES

Staying informed about your health issues can only benefit you. In the world of HMOs, PPOs and managed care, doctors often have only a few minutes with you as a patient. Come in informed armed with treatment options, and questions can only better utilize the time. Further, these sites can help you understand a diagnosis, risks, or a treatment… in other words those questions that come to you 15 minutes after you leave the doctors office.

HealthLink Plus http://www.healthlinkplus.org	The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County has put together this comprehensive medical web directory of the Internet. The site will help with web searches from finding a doctor (whether at home or when traveling), to medical insurance help to alternative medicine. Further, it links to some great research sources. Be sure to check out, the "evaluating medical web sites." This section will help one learn what makes information good and authoritative. By the way, I will mention I am an editor & have worked for about two years on this page.
Health Finder http://www.healthfinder.org	This is the US Department of Health & Human Service's Health Information Site. It provides information on Medicare, fraud, and the newest information available. Look here for both casual information, and as a starting place for an in-depth search for medical information.
O & P Homepage http://www.oandp.com	Becoming an educated consumer of prosthetics is one of the best ways to insure your getting the best out there. With its journals online along with other information, the O&P (Orthotics & Prosthetics) homepage is a good place to come and browse what’s out there. You can also search for support groups, and/or a prosthetic company.
Medicare Information http://www.medicare.gov	The official site of Medicare. It is easy to use and provides a lot of information about Medicare. Recommended to anyone who is currently, or about to use the plan.
Sampson's For the New Amputee http://www.sampsons.com/ NEWAMP.html	Made by a prosthetic company in New York, this is one of the most informative pages for a new amputee on the Internet. Facts, data and other vital information is given in an easy to use format. This site now features a new section for online support where amputees can either post questions, or ask them privately.
I can http://www.icanonline.net/	A general site for those with disabilities. This web site covers topics from health to relationships and current issues in the news. Traveling, finance, and other topics are addressed in this well put together web site. A great general site for the disabled.
AboveKneeAmputee.com http://www.abovekneeamputee.com	This site provides good, basic information about prosthetics for those who are new amputees, and information for those who have been around. It seems to rely heavily on actual amputees for recommendations on prosthetists. It also has a message board to help you find information on the problems one faces being as an above the knee amputee.
MedLine Plus http://medlineplus.gov/	A premiere web site by the federal government. The site has information on diseases, conditions and disorders. Further, it has good information about drugs. The site features information specific to specialized groups; such as, elderly, children, women, Latin and African American heritages.