Library Resources

• The Library's collection of licensed databases may include information on this topic; these are commercial, copyrighted materials that PGCMLS licenses for the reference and research needs of its customers; often this material comes directly from printed books. Most of these databases may be accessed remotely, while a few are available only to users on PC's in our Branches.
• The Library's collection of electronic reference books may also include information on this topic. These online versions of printed books do not have to be checked out or downloaded; like databases, content can be searched and sections printed. They are always available for your use in the Library and through remote access from home.

Web Resources

Selected Health Topics

Comprehensive Sites

• Health A to Z
  Contains health headlines, family health issues, a search engine, message boards, tools for tracking or calculating healthfulness, and of course, health topics "a to z".
• Healthcare 411
  Produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare 411 uses the latest podcasting technology to feature news and information on current health care topics with synopses of AHRQ’s latest research findings. This innovative tool provides consumers with information they can use to improve the quality of their health care.
• HealthFinder
  A gateway to consumer health and human services information developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• HealthWeb
  Provides links to specific, evaluated information resources selected by librarians and information professionals at leading academic medical centers. Selection emphasizes quality information for health care professionals as well as consumers.
• MayoClinic.com
  Provides access to up-to-date information about diseases & conditions, drugs, first aid, and medical news.
• MEDLINE Searching
  The National Library of Medicine offers "PubMed," an easy service for searching the 11 million references and abstracts in the MEDLINE database.
• MedlinePlus -- Health Information
  A supersite featuring information about many diseases/medical conditions. This site includes drug information, medical encyclopedia, news, clinical trials, senior health and more.
• Science.gov
  Science.gov is a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results.
• National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  An online resource on alternative/complementary medical therapies, how to find a practitioner, links to other resources, and a link to online chat with a health information specialist-- run by the National Institutes of Health. The site also includes a Spanish-language version.

Addictions
• Web of Addictions
  Facts and links on alcohol and drug addictions, contact information for groups, meetings and conferences.

Drugs and Medications
• RxList.com
  This site is originated and maintained by a licensed pharmacist and is part of the Healthcentral.com network of sites. Provides dosage, uses, side effects and interaction information on over 4500 prescription medications. Alternative medicine section has information on Chinese and Western herbs.

Hospitals
• American Hospital Directory
  On-line, comparative data for most hospitals, built from public files obtained from the federal Health Care Financing Administration. Measurements of hospitals and their performance, services provided, patient statistics, financial reports, costs and charges.

Law
• Health Hippo
  A database of law, policy and regulatory material related to health care.

Mental Health
• Internet Mental Health
  Definitions, diagnosis, research, medications, and links for major disorders.
• Mental Help Net
  Gateway to online resources on mental health, psychology and psychiatry: disorders and treatments, professional resources, reading room, chats, forums and opinion polls.

Minority Resources
• Office of Minority Health
  A service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; news and information on government minority health initiatives, searchable database of health documents, organizations and programs.

  Nursing

• NurseScribe
  This web site provides original articles on nursing theory, clinical practice, and career development. It is also a source of multiple products for nurses.

Nutrition

• Arbor Nutrition Guide
  Search engine for nutritional topics, as well as articles on food science, clinical nutrition, food industries and history, and dietary guidelines.
• Mayo Clinic Food and Nutrition Center
  Basic introduction, news and issues, facts about supplements, weight management, recipes, etc.
• Food and Nutrition
  Sponsored by the National Agricultural Library and the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland, this site provides information on dietary supplements, dietary guidelines, WIC, the food guide pyramid and more.

Health & Wellness Resource Center -- via Infotrac Searchbank. Requires a library card if you are not in a library branch. Indexing and selected full-text articles from medical journals, consumer health publications, general interest magazines, and reference publications.