 |
||
|
|
A
Guide to E-Health for the Healthcare Professional:
Today, the Internet is revolutionizing healthcare by providing a wealth of information and resources about health, health services and products. There are currently as many as 25,000 sites online that offer information on health and medical care, and hundreds of thousands of Web pages dedicated to a broad range of topics. As of May 2000, for example, there were some 614,000 web pages related to general diabetes with 68,000 pages related specifically to Diabetes Mellitus. As a result, consumers with the time and skills to filter through this plethora of information can become as informed about particular diseases as many health professionals. The Internet can also be used to purchase prescription drugs, along with a host of other medical products and services. In some cases, these medications may be covered by insurance policies and are offered at discounted prices. Yet, the quality and value of online health information is uneven, and the sale of medical products and services on the Internet is still not well regulated. Though many health-related Web sites provide accurate and up-to-date news, facts and advice, many others do not. Instead, they may provide information that is not only misleading, but potentially harmful. POINTS THAT ARE GOOD TO KNOW Not all Web sites are the same Some health-related sites are designed to provide a broad array of consumer information. Others are geared to assist medical professionals by supplying specialized products and services, or very specific scientific data. Still others are little more than electronic storefronts selling everything from over-the-counter medications to the latest versions of snake oil. In fact, anyone with computer skills can create a Web site and post health-related information. Like Web properties of all kinds, the most useful health and medical-related sites let you know their purpose on the first page. Effective sites also feature sitemaps that let users see the full scope of their content, and make it easy to access appropriate information. Avoid sites that are ambiguous or too broad. Instead, look for sites that focus on content that fits your special needs. Sites also vary by their ownership, determined by its top-level domain-those three letters after the "dot." The two largest commercial host domains are .com and .net. Some commercial companies also have begun registering their sites on two-letter hosts of small countries and territories, such as .jm (Jamaica) or .fj (Fiji Islands). Commercial sites can provide valuable and timely consumer information. A number also house chat rooms and discussion groups to help users share personal information about medical issues and diseases. Many sites, unfortunately, contain outdated, erroneous or biased information, while others are designed primarily to sell services, products or drugs. Major non-commercial sites have the following domain assignments at the end of their names:
Regardless of who their sponsors or supporters may be, health and medical-related Web sites should openly identify online advertising and disclose all financial relationships. Avoid sites that appear to be focused merely on selling a specific product or service. Look for sites that provide unbiased health information. Privacy Protection Providing personal health information over the Internet can expose consumers to possible invasions of their privacy. So, it is important, prior to communicating any personal data, to carefully review a site's privacy policy. Not only should a site provide users with reasonable notification of its information practices, it should also enable consumers to accept or decline collection of data, and allow them to give their consent before transferring information to third parties. Avoid sites that do not provide privacy statements, offer only an ill-defined code of privacy, have open-ended statements regarding the sharing of information with affiliates, or maintain unacceptable tracking procedures that identify visitors to the site. Look for sites that readily display their privacy policy up front, and subscribe to a privacy code of ethics like "Verisign" or "Trust-E." ”Starting Places for Online Health Information A variety of strategies can be used to find information on specific health problems. However, in all instances, you should to identify the scope and type of information needed. When doing a search, use well known "search engines" and library sites. No single search engine covers all of the information available on the Internet, so it is often necessary to use more than one. Moreover, most search engines furnish minimum information about a site and its contents, and sometimes prioritize information based on payment. It is always a good idea then, to try out several search engines until you become comfortable with those that specialize in the type of information you are looking for. One of the best ways to locate an appropriate health or medical-related Web site is through recommendations from people and publications you trust. Links from reliable sites with which you are already familiar are also helpful. Librarians, especially those at medical schools and hospitals are another a good source of leads. For consumers looking for detailed information about a specific health condition, one of the most comprehensive and authoritative sites for a wide range of medical and health information is provided by the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) MEDLINEplus, website located at www.nlm.nih.gov/medllineplus/. On line information includes:
Online Support Groups – Get A Little Help From New FriendsMany consumers have found valuable assistance and support from online discussions forums among people who share similar health interests or conditions. Online support groups serve as news and information-sharing areas that provide specific information and/or mutual support for those afflicted with similar health problems or emotional losses. These support groups are usually organized on a volunteer basis and offer their services free of charge. Support groups can be very helpful and well intentioned. Nevertheless, care should be taken when selecting and participating in such groups. There is virtually no oversight on these groups, and claims and statements made by members may be false and/or exaggerated. They also may be sources for misinformation or unscrupulous schemes. Buying Prescription Drugs Online A growing number of Web sites sell prescription drugs directly to the consumers, who can order from home, often at discounted prices. In fact, almost all of the major retail pharmacy chains are affiliated with an Internet site that offers online sales. Reputable sites require that prescriptions written by a patient’s health provider, and adhere to regulations enforced by government agencies such as state pharmaceutical boards in the United States. But prescription drugs also can be bought at sites located in other countries, where there are few, if any, laws or enforced policies. Consumers should stick with well-recognized sites affiliated with known pharmacies, or those that adhere to recognized industry self-regulation mechanisms such as the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site or “VIPPS,” run by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. In some cases, sites offer brief medical “consults” with their own health care professionals who then order prescriptions for consumers. Others sites simply require completion of a request form and a disclaimer that waives the site’s liability for any adverse results from use of the drug. These sites should be avoided since they do not follow basic ethical procedures recognized by most regulating agencies. Before purchasing prescription drugs online, you should also consider the following:
Getting Online Medical Consultation, Diagnosis, And Treatment It is not a good idea to use the Internet as your primary source of medical diagnosis for a health problem. Though there are many Internet sites that offer a variety of medical services directly to clients, these services are usually labeled as opinions to avoid legal liability associated with a fee for service payment. What’s more, these services are not covered by any health insurance plan. Medical consults are based on information supplied by consumers through e-mail, and providers then render diagnoses and treatment plans based on this information. Since there is very little regulation of these sites, it is safer and more effective to rely on the advice of local health professionals rather than seeking primary medical assistance online. Improper diagnosis and treatment – via the Internet or otherwise – can lead to serious health consequences and, in extreme cases, death. When seeking medical advice online, it is best to remember that:
|