Library
 About the Florence Grant Health Sciences Library
The Florence Grant Health Sciences Library of Windham Hospital provides hospital staff with current, accurate information that can facilitate informed decision making. It is also available to patients and their families, and members of the public by special arrangement.
Limited research assistance is available upon request. Both print and electronic resources are available in the library. Electronic resources can be accessed from hospital computers and the hospital intranet at all times.
The library is located in the Hatch Building on the second floor, across from the cafeteria.
Contact information:
Kate Cheromcha, Librarian
Florence Grant Health Sciences Library
Windham Community Memorial Hospital
112 Mansfield Avenue
Willimantic, CT 06226
860.456.6807
Health Information
This page was created to provide links to selected consumer health and medical information websites. No claims are made to the suitability of the information; inclusion in this list does not imply recommendation or endorsement. The information is not intended to provide medical advice or interpretation. Carefully evaluate any health information you find and discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Evaluating health information websites
Many websites can be great resources when you want to learn about a specific disease of health condition. You can also find tips on staying healthy, coping with a disease or illness, or improving your overall health. But not all websites provide good quality information. To avoid using unreliable, inaccurate, or unsafe information, always evaluate a website--even the ones listed here--before using the information. Use the evaluation guides provided by FamilyDoctor.org (http://familydoctor.org/) or MedlinePlus (http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus) to ensure that you have found good quality, reliable information.
Privacy considerations
Many health websites offer personalized features such as customized alerts to registered users. Before registering, read the privacy policies of the sites carefully, understand how the personal information you provide will be used, and accepte or decline offers to share that information with others.
What's New
- Consumermedsafety.org is sponsored by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks and analyzes reports, mainly from hospitals and healthcare professionals, of medication errors and safety risks. The site, in partnership with iguard.org, a free drug-safety-alerting service, allows users to sign up for personalized news alerts on manufacturers' drug recalls and alerts issued by the Food and Drug Administration. Fill out an online form on your medications and receive information on drug-safety ratings, possible drug interactions, side effects, and reviews from other patients.
http://consumermedsafety.org/
- Whynotthebest.org, from the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund, compares care at 4,500 hospitals nationwide using data from Medicare's Hospital Compare website and the federal government's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Primarily intended for healthcare professionals; can also be used by the public.
http://whynotthebest.org
- Hazmap, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) database, provides health and safety professionals and consumers with information about exposure to chemicals and biologic substances. Covers more than 2,000 chemical agents, 225 occupational hazards, and related diseases. Users can search by symptoms or diseases.
http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov
- ToxTown, also from the NIH, provides consumer-friendly information on potentially toxic household chemicals and environmental health risks in your home and neighborhood.
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov
- EverydayHealth.com links 24 separate health sites catering to various interests. Registered users can create personalized hom pages with health news and advice tailored to their interests, join community groups or start their own health blog. Another useful feature is calculators, including ones for calorie intake and body-mass index.
http://www.everydayhealth.com
General Information
- MedlinePlus is for anyone with a medical question. Receive accurate, current medical information in English or Spanish. Links to 7 medical dictionaries/glossaries, 3 lists of medical dictionaries, over 30 clearinghouses, 50+ associations, more than 25 databases, and over 25 consumer health libraries. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
- NOAH: the New York Online Access to Health offers comprehensive coverage of health topics with links to full text. Topics include definitions, care and treatment, and lists of information resources. Also in Spanish. http://www.noah-health.org/en/search/health.html
Cancer
- OncoLink was founded in 1994 by specialists sfrom the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania in order to help patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the general public get accurate cancer-related information at no charge. http://www.oncolink.com
Diabetes
Other Topics
Offering personalization options
- WebMD has expanded its offerings to include a new interactive diet and nutrition center. Registered users can receive public-health alerts as they are issued.
http://www.webmd.com
- WellSphere.com sends text message reminders to go to the gym or take your medication, daily health and fitness tips, and allows users to log fitness goals on mobile phones. Provides nutrition information for menu items at restaurants and suggests healthier alternatives.
http://www.wellsphere.com
Información de Salud en Español / For reliable health information in Spanish:
Additional Health Internet Sites:
Links to 100 reliable health information internet sites can be found on the CAPHIS website CAPHIS is the Consumer and Patient Health Information Section of the Medical Library Association.
(www.caphis.mlanet.org/consumer/index.html)
|