Your Health, In Your Hands
Most people would like to be well-informed health consumers, but finding credible, reliable, freely accessible health information on the Web can be a challenge. The Health Web Guide helps you locate online medical dictionaries and encyclopedias, health-specific search engines, thorough overviews of illnesses, injuries, diseases and conditions, and advice on seeking professional medical help. A Spanish-language version of the Health Web Guide is also available.
Expand All Guide SectionsEvaluating Online Health Information
The Internet can be a great place to find health information, but because health is a serious topic ... read more »
Top Health Web Sites
The Web is host to a substantial number of reliable, comprehensive health sites. If you know what ... read more »
Health Insurance
Anyone not covered by an employer's insurance policy appreciates what a luxury health care can be. ... read more »
Find a Doctor or Dentist
It's important to have a good relationship with your doctor, and it's doubly important to select the right one. Word of mouth is a great way to find a doctor you can trust, but if you're new to an area or would like to do additional research, there are Web sites that can help you find a doctor or dentist.
Insights for Finding a Doctor or Dentist
- Don't wait until you have a medical crisis to start looking for a doctor. Here are some tips for choosing a doctor.
- If you're looking for a family doctor, follow these guidelines set by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
- Check with your insurance provider to learn which doctors in your area accept your plan. Most insurance companies’ Web sites have searchable databases of doctors in their networks.
Top Sites for Finding a Doctor or Dentist
To find a doctor in your area …
American Medical Association
allows users to search for information on area doctors by inputting their name and location, or their specialty and location. The database contains a list of more than 800,000 doctors. Additional information on education history, accepted insurance providers and contact information is provided for AMA member physicians.
WebMD's
physician directory is searchable by location, name and specialty. It contains a specialist glossary to assist those not familiar with technical terminology. The information provided is generally quite extensive, but varies from doctor to doctor.
DoctorDirectory.com
is a comprehensive directory that narrows down your search by specialty and location. Other services include a hospital finder, a health plan finder and a medical school finder.
Medicare's
physician directory contains names, addresses, phone numbers, specialties and other important information for Medicare-participating physicians who have agreed to accept assignment on all Medicare claims and covered services. Assignment only works with the Original Medicare Plan. It does not apply if you are in a Medicare managed care plan or Private Fee-For-Service plan. It is important to note that this directory does not include physicians who do not participate with Medicare, as nonparticipating physicians may take assignment on a case-by-case basis, or may never take assignment.
For a dentist near you …
1-800-DENTIST
has a four-step process for finding a dentist: state your location and dental preferences, select an office, confirm your profile and review the details of the dentist and office. The expanded information on the dentists and their practices—which include hours, credentials, treatments offered and conveniences—are a nice touch.
American Dental Association
is the largest dental association in the United States, with more than 150,000 members. This feature allows users to search specifically for ADA-member dentists in their area. It provides a glossary to help those unfamiliar with dental terminology determine what specialist suits their needs.
Know Your Teeth,
a Web site of the Academy of General Dentistry, allows users to search for AGD-member dentists in their area. Keep in mind that dentists listed only practice general dentistry.
Dentists.com
has an easy-to-use database of more than 100,000 dentists, making it simple to locate a dentist near you.
Talking to Your Doctor About Your Health
Talking to your doctor about your health can be enhanced with a little ... read more »
Medication
All medication, whether prescribed by your doctor or received over the counter, is ... read more »
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