Consumer Resources
Antibiotic Use
All About Antibiotics
Information from the Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition that helps explain why the overuse of antibiotics should be avoided
www.mi-marr.org
Asthma Medication Use
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Videos, podcasts and audio files are free to view and download; includes videos in Spanish and American Sign Language
www.cdc.gov
Get Asthma Help
Web site developed and maintained by the Asthma Initiative of Michigan - the state-wide asthma collaborative; includes local information and resources
www.getasthmahelp.org
Asthma and Allergy Foundation
Educational information; search for a local chapter or support group; includes information in Spanish
www.aafa.org
Back Care
Low Back Pain (PDF)
Brochure from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement; provides an overview of low back pain and a roadmap of what to expect in your recovery.
www.icsi.org
Cancer Screening
American Cancer Society
Learn about cancer and programs available in your area
www.cancer.org
Child Health Care
Instant Child Immunization Schedule
Get the best protection for your child—make sure your child is immunized on schedule. For a complete list of recommended immunizations, just select your child’s birth date at the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link.
http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/kidstuff/newscheduler_le/
Bright Futures for Families
Family-friendly child health and development information and materials that can be downloaded or purchased, including checklists and pocket guides
www.brightfuturesforfamilies.org
Diabetes Care
SLSD Diabetes Brochure 2009 (PDF)
This brochure about Diabetes includes basic educational information and a helpful list describing regular services a person with diabetes should expect to receive and how often the services should be received
The Beehive
Tools and resources to help people with Diabetes manage their disease
www.thebeehive.org
National Diabetes Education Program
Describes the four steps to control diabetes and live a long, active life; includes many resources; also available in Spanish
www.ndep.nih.gov
National Diabetes Education Clearinghouse
Reviewed and recommended by the Michigan Partners in Action Coalition, this site explains the importance of oral health for people with Diabetes.
www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
The American Association of Diabetes Educators
Includes resources for consumers, including videos, a self-care worksheet and a blog
www.diabeteseducator.org
American Diabetes Association
Everything from the basics about diabetes to recipes and links to get advice from experts on how to fit exercise into your daily routine
www.diabetes.org
Generic Medication Use
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Learn more about generic drugs
www.fda.gov
Heart Disease
American Heart Association
Resources regarding heart disease and prevention
www.hearthub.org
Centers for Disease Control
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Learn about heart disease prevention from the CDC, one of the major operating components of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/
Hospital Care
The Joint Commission
Presented by the Joint Commission, the organization that accredits hospitals, these downloadable “Speak Up” brochures on patient safety topics such as preventing errors and mistakes in your care, preventing infections and what you should know about pain management.
www.jointcommission.org
CarePages
Commercial Web site that family members can use like a blog when a loved one is in the hospital
www.carepages.com
Improving Your Health
Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz
Did you know that certain vaccines are recommended for adults and adolescents? Take this quiz from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find out which vaccines YOU may need. This quiz provides information for people age 11 years and older.
http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched/
Choosing Wisely
How can physicians and patients have the important conversations necessary to ensure the right care is delivered at the right time? Choosing Wisely® aims to answer that question.
An initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation, Choosing Wisely is focused on encouraging physicians, patients and other health care stakeholders to think and talk about medical tests and procedures that may be unnecessary, and in some instances can cause harm. http://choosingwisely.org/. For a list of tests and treatments that patients and physicians should discuss, please visit http://choosingwisely.org/?page_id=13
Care About Your Care
An effort to raise awareness about what you can do to identify and get better health care. It includes this short video that lays out the quality crisis facing America and challenges viewers to ask themselves if they and their families are getting the highest quality care.
www.careaboutyourcare.org
Ask Me 3
Patient education program designed to promote better communication between health care providers and patients in order to improve health outcomes. Includes downloadable brochures for patients, providers and employers; produced by the Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient Safety Foundation
http://www.npsf.org/for-healthcare-professionals/programs/ask-me-3/
AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Multiple guides and resources for patients and families on improving health care quality; topics include staying healthy, choosing quality health care, getting safe care, understanding diseases and conditions and comparing medical treatments; from the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov
AHRQ - Advice From Dr. Carolyn Clancy
Advice column of Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov
AHRQ - Consumer Guide to Health Insurance
Describes different kinds of health insurance and answers common questions; includes a glossary of health insurance terms and resources for more information; from the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov
Introduction to the Patient Centered Medical Home
A web-based educational program, describing an approach to providing comprehensive primary care that many doctors in Southeast Michigan and throughout the country are pursuing
www.pcpcc.net
Questions are the Answers
View videos seen on TV and find tips about talking with your care givers, planning for surgery and getting a prescription; produced by the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
www.ahrq.gov
Michigan Steps Up
Tools to create a personal health plan, record daily achievements, update goals weekly and take a health risk assessment, from the Michigan Surgeon General and the Michigan Department of Community Health
www.michigan.gov
How to find Trustworthy Health Information on the Web (PDF)
Brief informational brochure
New York Times Health Guide
A comprehensive library of medical topics, including in-depth articles on diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries and surgeries. The encyclopedic reference is frequently updated and reviewed by doctors, medical writers and editors and includes extensive links to The Times' own archive of news and features
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/index.html