HEALTH INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET
A Central Library Research Guide
Getting Started Guide
Click here for suggestions and advice on searching for health information on the internet
General Health Information
General Websites
Aetna Intelihealth
Provides information on specific diseases and conditions, healthy living, and men's, women's, and children's health. Includes other features such as a medical dictionary, drug resource center, and a physician locator.
CNN Health
A great resource for health news and information as well as condition or disease specific information.
Cleveland Clinic Health Information
Information on specific diseases and conditions, treatments and procedures, and healthy living. Also includes health quizzes, videos, podcasts, health learning modules, and a live web chat where you can chat with a health information specialist.
Consumer Reports Health
This section of the Consumer Reports website has a wealth of information including reviews of health-related products, condition and disease-specific information, information on prescription drugs, information on natural health, advice on talking to your doctor, and much more.
Deciphering Medspeak
Helps translate commonly used "medspeak" encountered when interacting with health professionals or reading health information. Includes disease-specific versions.
En Español
eMedicine Health
Find information on various health topics, picture slide shows, medication information, a medical dictionary, a variety of tools including a BMI calculator, first aid guides, and more.
Evaluating Internet Health Information (from the National Library of Medicine)
A good starting point, this tutorial will show you how to evaluate the health information you find on the internet to determine its accuracy and reliability.
Fairfax County Public Library: Health and Medicine
Comprehensive list of health related websites.
HealthFinder
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
"Key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet." It "links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations."
En Español
HealthLink Plus
Provides librarian recommended links to health websites regarding general health issues, nutrition and healthy living, diseases and conditions, alternative medicine, and much more.
En Español
Household Prodcuts Database
"What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room?
Learn more about what's in these products, about potential health effects, and about safety and handling."
Librarians' Internet Index: Health
Comprehensive website providing links to respected, librarian-reviewed websites.
Mayo Clinic
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Includes information on specific diseases and condition, drugs and supplements, treatment decisions, and healthy living. You can also ask specialists a question, utilize various health tools, and more.
MedicineNet
Includes picture slide shows and videos, disease- and condition-specific information, a symptom checker, procedure and test information, medication information, and much more.
MedlinePlus
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Helps answer health questions using authoritative information from the National Library of Medicine. Includes access to medical journal articles, a medical encyclopedia, drug and treatment info, health news, and more.
En Español
For health info in over 40 different languages click here
Merck: Patients & Caregivers
This website provides links to information from The Merck Manual - Home Edition and The Merck Manual of Health & Aging, an informative website called MerckSource, a variety of patient programs to help with prescription drug costs and other health services, Merck-sponsored clinical trials, an adult vaccination locator, and more.
National Institutes of Health
Specific information on men's, women's, and seniors' health, healthy lifestyles, health research, and various disease- and condition-specific health info.
National Library of Medicine Guide to Finding Health Information
A good starting place, this FAQ gives tips on finding health information.
NetWellness
Information about various health topics and an Ask an Expert feature that allows you to ask doctors questions. Includes a reference library including a medical encyclopedia and more.
New York Online Access to Health (NOAH)
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information on a wide variety of health topics.
En Español
Times Health Guide
"The New York Times presents a comprehensive library of medical topics, including in-depth articles on diseases, conditions, tests, symptoms, injuries and surgeries. The encyclopedic reference is frequently updated and reviewed by doctors, medical writers and editors. Within the guide are extensive links to The Times's own archive of news and features."
WebMD
General and condition- and disease-specific information, a symptom checker, drug and treatment information, and more.
Wellness Information Zone
Provided by the Humana Foundation, this website includes information on specific diseases, medications, health care choices, healthy living, and more.
Tox Town
"Tox Town is designed to give you information on everyday locations where you might find toxic chemicals; non-technical descriptions of chemicals; links to selected, authoritative chemical information on the Internet; how the environment can impact human health; Internet resources on environmental health topics."
Health Research
Alt HealthWatch
(Requires an Austin Public Library card)
"Focuses on the many perspectives of complementary, holistic, and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. It provides full-text articles from more than 180 international, and often peer-reviewed journals, reports, proceedings, and association and consumer newsletters. In addition, there are hundreds of pamphlets, booklets, special reports, original research, and book excerpts."
BioMed Central
Original research articles from 189 peer-reviewed open access journals.
Consumer Health Complete
(Requires an Austin Public Library Card)
"Consumers can search and browse within medical encyclopedias, popular health and medical reference books, full-text magazine articles, and medical images and diagrams. CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic, and integrated medicine. The database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs and alcohol, fitness, nutrition and dietetics, men's and women's health, and children's health."
Deciphering Medspeak
Helps translate commonly used "medspeak" encountered when interacting with health professionals or reading health information. Includes disease-specific versions.
En Español
Health & Wellness Resource Center
(Requires an Austin Public Library Card)
"Includes information from the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary, and the Medical and Health Information Directory. Also find information about drugs, the latest health news, and health assessment tools."
En Español
Health Reference Center - Academic
(Requires an Austin Public Library card)
"A one-stop, full service resource for health-related research. It provides an integrated collection of general interest health and fitness magazines, medical and professional periodicals, reference books, and pamphlets."
Health Source: Consumer Edition
(Requires an Austin Public Library card)
"Offers authoritative health-related information including the full text of nearly 300 consumer health magazines. Also included are more than 4,500 Clinical Reference Systems reports (in English and Spanish); Clinical Pharmacology, which provides access to 1,100 drug monograph entries and 2,700 patient education fact sheets; and Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary."
Magill's Medical Guide
(Requires an Austin Public Library card)
"Covers diseases, disorders, treatments, procedures, specialties, anatomy, biology, and issues in an A-Z format, with sidebars addressing recent developments in medicine and concise information boxes for all diseases and disorders."
MedScape
This website is directed at health professionals; however, there are a large number of freely available journal articles that may interest consumers. To avoid the more technical aspects of the website, select one of the Resource Centers on the left hand side of the page.
Natural & Alternative Treatments
(Requires an Austin Public Library card)
"Contains almost 200 articles on medical conditions, presenting in an evidence-based manner the alternative medicine therapies proposed for use in their treatment. It also contains detailed, evidence-based information on herbs and supplements, functional foods, and other alternative therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy. An additional section, linked to the others, provides comprehensive information on drug/herb/supplement interactions."
Public Library of Science
Access to freely available journal articles covering all aspects of life science and medicine.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Audiovisual Library
Audiovisual materials (audio CDs, DVDs, VHS', etc) regarding health topics such as safety, food hygiene, infant and child care, breastfeeding, prenatal and postpartum care, AIDS, and aging that are available for free loan to any Texas resident.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Medical and Research Library
This library provides medical information, in both print and electronic formats, to members of the general public.
Men's Health
MedlinePlus: Men's Health
Includes information on specific conditions, latest news, treatments, diagnoses and symptoms, prevention and screening, and more. Also includes the latest research, a reference library, and various health related tools.
En Español, Chinese, and Korean
Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age (from AHRQ)
A checklist men can use to maintain their health. Includes recommended screening tests and other important advice.
Men's Health (from CDC)
Includes latest news and scientific publications on various health topics, general health info for men, advice on healthy living, leading causes of death, and more.
Pregnancy, Parenting, and Family Health
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: For Families
Includes a child and adolescent psychiatrist finder, interviews with psychiatry experts, mental illness and drug abuse statistics, a guide to ADHD, a glossary of symptoms and mental illnesses and more.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Find information on parenting, various children's health topics, AAP publications, and more.
Dr. Greene
Created by Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrics professor at Stanford University, this site includes information on various health topics, free podcasts, a parent's network, blogs, a place to ask Dr. Greene questions, and more.
Family Doctor
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
A huge amount of information on topics such as healthy living, making medical choices, women and men's health, advocacy, and over the counter drugs. Complete with a number of health tools including a dictionary and doctor locator.
En Español
Family Health
Includes latest news and publications on various health topics, tips for healthy occasions (such as prom, Halloween, etc.), general healthy living tips, and more.
En Español
Kidshealth
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Website that can be used by kids, teens, and parents including information on general health, growth and development, emotions and behavior, medical problems, pregnancy and newborns, nutrition and fitness and more.
En Español
March of Dimes: Pregnancy and Newborn Health Education Center
An enormous amount of info on every stage of pregnancy including caring for your newborn and becoming pregnant. Includes audio, video, blogs, and other interactive media.
En Español
MedLine Plus: Pregnancy
Includes a guide to staying healthy during pregnancy, prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and more.
En Español
MedLine Plus: Teenage Pregnancy
Includes information about having a healthy pregnancy, tips for parents to help their daughters avoid teenage pregnancy, coping with teenage pregnancy, and more.
En Español
National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD)
Includes information on various health and human development topics, clinical research and clinical trials, health education, and relevant NICHD publications and materials.
New York Online Access to Health (NOAH)
Includes information on choosing a health care team, all of the stages of pregnancy, preparing for labor, delivery, postpartum care, and more
En Español
Parenting Resources: USA.gov
Resources on child care, child support, education and health issues for parents, and more. Also includes information for expecting parents, adoptive parents, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
Virtual Pediatric Hospital
A digital library of pediatric information including two comprehensive listings of child and teen health related questions and answers.
WebMD: Pregnancy Center
Pregnancy videos and news, question and answer forums, due date and ovulation calendars, and much more.
Senior Citizens and Caregivers
AARP Health
This site provides general health news and information, disease- and condition-specific information, a doctor and hospital search tool, Medicare and health insurance information, long-term care information, and more.
En Español
AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
Information on healthy aging, elder care at home, a place to share stories about elder care, and more.
Administration on Aging: Elders & Families
Includes and eldercare services locator, information on long term care planning, and elder rights protection info.
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)
Information about support services for caregivers and families, fact sheets on caregiving and hospital discharge planning, public policy information, caregiver advice, and online discussion groups.
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation (GMHF)
Includes information on a variety of health topics affecting older adults, caregivers, and their families; a geriatric psychiatrist locator; recent news pertaining to older adults, caregivers, and their families; and a collection of links to additional information on a number of mental health-related topics.
Health and Age
Includes news, recent research articles, links to various disease- and condition-specific health centers, a question and answer section, and more.
Healthy Aging (from CDC)
Includes health statistics and research, caregiving information, information on end of life issues, information on health issues, and more.
MedlinePlus Seniors' Health Issues
Includes basic health information, health news, prevention and screening information, healthy living information, health tools and tutorials, links to a number of reference books, current research, and more.
En Español
NIH Senior Health
Find information on specific health topics, exercise, and a number of health videos.
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (NCCNHR)
Includes consumer fact sheets on planning long-term care and an ombudsmen locator for assistance with long-term care issues.
National Institute on Aging
Provides publications on a variety of health topics, Alzheimer's disease information, and clinical trials information.
En Español
Senior Citizens' Resources: USA.gov
A collection of links to government agencies and resources. Resources include caregiver information, education, jobs, and volunteerism for seniors; information on end-of-life issues; general health information; housing for seniors; retirement information; and more.
Women's Health
Feminist.com Health and Sexuality Links
Includes links to general women's health information, breast cancer, reproductive health, reproductive rights, sexuality, and AIDs information.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (OWH)
Includes free publications/fact sheets on women's health, links to other women's health websites, and info on a number of women's health topics.
En Español and other languages
HeartHealthyWomen
All about women's heart health including risk factors of cardiovascular disease and stroke and information about treatments, recovery, signs and symptoms, tests and diagnosis, and general health and wellness. Also has an Ask a Doctor feature.
Internet Health Resources
Links to information regarding infertility, including diagnosis, treatment, and more.
MedlinePlus: Women's Health
Includes information on mammograms and pregnancy, statistics, specific health conditions and diseases, health check tools, and more.
En Español
National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC)
Provides health guides, wellness information, disease- and condition-specific information, health videos, and more.
North American Menopause Society
An organization dedicated to research and promotion of women's health as they age. Information on menopause including symptoms, body changes, hormone therapy, achieving optimal health, and more.
Our Bodies Ourselves
Information on relationships and sexuality, taking care of yourself, sexual health, reproductive choices, pregnancy, growing older, menopause, and medical problems and procedures.
Women's Health
Includes information on women's health topics, health statistics, several health tools, a variety of health publications, and information in Spanish.
En Español
Women's Health (from CDC)
Includes latest news and scientific publications on various health topics, general health info for women, advice on healthy living, facts and statistics, and more.
Specific Diseases and Conditions
- For websites about the flu and flu shots click here
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families
Provides resources about HIV and AIDS, education and training information, policy and advocacy, and more.
En Español
American Academy of Dermatology: Public Center
Includes information on a variety of conditions and diseases, sun safety, skin exams, and more, as well as a newsletter and a variety of pamphlets and fact sheets.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Includes information on specific diseases, syndromes, and broken bones, treatment and rehabilitation, sports and exercise, prevention and safety, and more. Also includes an orthopaedist directory.
En Español and other languages
American Dental Association: Public Health Information
Information on various oral health topics, news, a glossary, and more.
En Español
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
Includes information on diabetes and diabetes prevention, nutrition and recipes, weight loss and exercise, diabetes research, message boards, and more.
En Español
American Heart Association: HeartHub
Information on cardiovascular disease and stroke including videos, quick facts, answers from the experts, the latest medical presentations, a number of health centers, recipes, a heart risk calculator, and more.
En Español, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese
American Lung Association
Includes information on various lung diseases, current research, treatments, tobacco control, air quality, allergies, asthma, quitting smoking, and more.
En Español
Alzheimer's Association
Includes basic information on Alzheimer's and living with Alzheimer's as well as chat rooms and message boards used to communicate with other caregivers and families of people with Alzheimer's.
En Español
American Cancer Society
Organization that provides support for and a wealth of information to cancer patients and survivors and family and friends of cancer sufferers.
En Español
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Includes information on asthma and allergies, educational resources, an Ask the Allergist feature, information on local chapters and support groups, an allergy forecast by zip code, and more.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Information on specific diseases and conditions, injury and violence safety, healthy living, environmental health, and more.
En Español
DIRLINE
DIRLINE is a directory used to locate health organizations. Finding health organizations related to your disease or condition and visiting their websites can help you obtain valuable information about your disease or condition.
National Cancer Institute
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information about specific types of cancer including treatments, clinical trials, prevention and causes, and more.
En Español
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
Information on various digestive diseases, statistics, clinical trials, NDDIC publications, and more.
En Español
National Eye Institute (NEI) Health Information
Information on diseases and disorders, research, basic eye anatomy, eye care resources, NEI publications and materials, and more.
En Español
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Provides heart and vascular, lung, and blood disease fact sheets. Also includes educational tutorials, information regarding children and clinical studies, recipes for healthy eating, and more.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Includes disease- and condition-specific information, news, journal articles, and clinical trials.
En Español
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Includes an A-Z directory of various health topics, clinical research and clinical trials, health education, additional publications and materials, and more.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information on specific mental illnesses, statistics, clinical trials, medications, getting support, and more.
En Español
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Use the disorder index to find information on treatments, prognoses, clinical research, and related organizations for various neurological disorders.
En Español
National Institute on Aging
Provides publications on a variety of health topics, Alzheimer's disease information, and clinical trials information.
En Español
National Stroke Association
Includes information on risk factors, prevention, and recovery from stroke. Plus, stroke information specific to women, men, African Americans, and caregivers as well as information about medical and EMS professionals.
En Español
SugarStats
Use this website to track, monitor, and share your blood sugar levels and other key statistics to help you manage your diabetes online.
Urology Health (American Urological Association)
Information about the association, adult and pediatric urological conditions, and a tool to find an urologist.
En Español
Medications, Alternative Treatments, and Clinical Trials
CenterWatch: Clinical Trials Listings
Clinical trials listed by medical condition.
CenterWatch Drug Directories
Find a listing of drugs recently approved by the FDA, information about the results of recently completed and ongoing clinical trials, and information on prescriptions and over the counter drugs available through pharmacies.
ClinicalTrials.gov
"ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details."
DailyMed
Current medication information including the most recent drug labels submitted to the FDA that are currently in use.
Drug Information Portal: National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Type in the name of a brand name or generic drug to find additional information from a variety of trusted resources.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Information on food, drugs, medical devices, biologics, blood, vaccines, animals, veterinary drugs, cosmetics, how medicines are approved by the FDA, generic drug equivalents, nutrition, dietary supplements, and more.
En Español
HIV InSite
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
"Comprehensive, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and policy from the University of California San Francisco."
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products
Evidence-based information about herbs, botanicals, supplements, and more; written for both consumers and health professionals.
Needy Meds
Information on how to obtain medicine and healthcare assistance for people having trouble purchasing their prescriptions.
PDRHealth
Includes comprehensive information on drugs and supplements, diseases and conditions, clinical trials, surgery, and a number of interactive tools.
RxList
Includes drug information, a pill identifier, various picture slide shows, information on specific diseases and conditions, and a medical dictionary.
Health Insurance
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Excellent resource for information on Medicare and Medicaid services including prescription drug coverage, health plans, and more.
Medicare
Use this website to determine Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, compare prescription drug plans, plan for long-term needs, and more.
En Español
National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Consumer Resources
Use this website to find a glossary of insurance terms, a guide to shopping for cancer insurance, and information about state insurance regulations. You can also use their Insure U website (also, en Español) to find consumer information on choosing and purchasing health insurance.
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Report Cards
"Free online resources to help you select a health plan or physician that provides the top-notch care you deserve."
Office of Inspector General's (OIG) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) Database
Searchable database that "provides information to the health care industry, patients and the public regarding individuals and entities currently excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and all Federal health care programs."
Doctors, Hospitals, and Nursing Homes
Locators
AMA DoctorFinder
"Provides you with basic professional information on virtually every licensed physician in the United States. This includes more than 814,000 doctors."
Health Organization Directory
(Requires an Austin Public Library Card)
"Search all three volumes of Gale's Health Organization Directory for organizations, agencies and institutions; publications and other information resources; and health services."
RateMDs
Use this website to locate doctors other people have rated highly. Doctors are added by users of the site and visitors to the site are encouraged to start an account to rate doctors, add doctors, and participate in the many forums (places to discuss various health topics with other users of the site).
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services: Help for Texans
The TX Dept. of Aging and Disability Services provides assistance with locating nursing home and other assisted care facilities as well as financial support to pay for these services for qualifying persons. Contact your local office or visit the website for more information on applying for financial and other assistance.
En Espanol
Texas DocFinder
Verify whether or not your physician is licensed, where they graduated from medical school, and additional information here.
Texas Medical Board: Services for Consumers
Use this website to find physicians or acupuncturists in Texas, verify a physician's license, file a complaint, view recent disciplinary actions against physicians, and more.
Ratings
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
The Board helps develop "standards in the ongoing evaluation and certification of [specialist] physicians." Click on "Consumers" to find information on how to be a smart patient and to locate Board certified specialists.
Health Grades
"The leading healthcare ratings organization, providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians."
Hospital Compare
Provides information on "how well the hospitals care for all their adult patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures."
Long Term Care Quality Reporting System (QRS)
This resource was created by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. "You can use QRS to obtain specific information about a particular long term care provider or to compare providers in a particular area. QRS provides information that can help you identify providers that may meet your family member's needs, but it is not meant to serve as the only basis for choosing a particular provider."
En Español
Member of the Family
Information about 16,000 Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes including reports summarizing information found in government surveys and homes that have had complaints filed against them or have been cited for violations.
Nursing Home Compare
Use this tool to find "detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country."
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Report Cards
"Free online resources to help you select a health plan or physician that provides the top-notch care you deserve."
RateMDs
Use this website to locate doctors other people have rated highly. Doctors are added by users of the site and visitors to the site are encouraged to start an account to rate doctors, add doctors, and participate in the many forums (places to discuss various health topics with other users of the site).
U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals
Rankings of the best hospitals in the United States broken down by type of medical area. Includes other health info on diseases and conditions, health plans, medications, and more.
Health Care Complaints
Joint Commission: General Public
The Joint Commission is dedicated to patient advocacy and helping people make smart health care decisions. Includes various publications on finding reliable health information, selecting a health care provider, and being a smart patient, as well as a place to file complaints regarding low quality health care.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Consumer Resources
Use this website to find a glossary of insurance terms, a guide to shopping for cancer insurance, and information about state insurance regulations. You can also use their Insure U website (also, en Español) to find consumer information on choosing and purchasing health insurance.
Patient Advocate Foundation
"Offers assistance to patients with specific issues they are facing with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases." Includes resources on various cancers, clinical trials, and more.
En Español
Quackwatch
A nonprofit company founded by a doctor that compiles information on medical quackery. It can be searched or browsed to discover medical "frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies."
Social Networks and Blogs
Blogs
Use the following directories and websites to search for health-related blogs
Best of the Web Blog Directory
Bloggeries
EatonWeb: The Blog Directory
WebMD Blogs
Browse a long list of blogs on a number of health conditions and diseases.
Social Networks
DailyStrength
Claims to be "the largest, most comprehensive health network of people sharing their advice, treatment experiences, and support."
Healia
Not only a social network, but also a health search engine that filters your searches to present you reliable health information websites. Includes health guides from various professionals.
HealthBoards
A collection of message boards on diseases and health conditions in which you can communicate with people suffering from the same diseases and conditions.
HopeCube
Connect with people and health professionals regarding a variety of health topics.
ICYou
Collection of health videos uploaded by users.
iMedix
Social network where you can set up an account to ask other members health questions, browse health information rated by other members, chat with other members about health issues, and join condition- and disease-specific communities.
MedHelp
Online health community including forums to post questions and discuss health topics with other members and doctors, comprehensive medical information, and a place where you can track various aspects of your health. Registration is required, but free.
PatientsLikeMe
Share treatment, symptom, medicinal, and other information with other people who have similar experiences.
SugarStats
Use this website to track, monitor, and share your blood sugar levels and other key statistics to help you manage your diabetes online.
Your Disease Risk: Siteman Cancer Center
This website consists of a number of questionnaires to help assess your risk for various diseases.
Austin and Travis County Information
General Websites
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department: Flu Shot Clinics
Places in the Austin/Travis County area where you can get a flu shot free of charge. There is a suggested donation of $10.
Central Texas Healthcare Resource Directory
Includes information about public healthcare benefits (who is eligible, how to apply, etc.) and listings of providers accepting public benefits, area hospitals, health clinics, and specialized services.
Heart of Texas Go Local
Search for Texas health services, service providers and facilities, disease- and health issue-specific services, and more.
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services: Help for Texans
The TX Dept. of Aging and Disability Services provides assistance with locating nursing home and other assisted care facilities as well as financial support to pay for these services for qualifying persons. Contact your local office or visit the website for more information on applying for financial and other assistance.
En Espanol
Texas Department of State Health Services: Audiovisual Library
Audiovisual materials (audio CDs, DVDs, VHS', etc) regarding health topics such as safety, food hygiene, infant and child care, breastfeeding, prenatal and postpartum care, AIDS, and aging that are available for free loan to any Texas resident.
Texas Department of State Health Services: Medical and Research Library
This library provides medical information, in both print and electronic formats, to members of the general public.
Texas DocFinder
Verify whether or not your physician is licensed, where they graduated from medical school, and additional information here.
Texas Medical Board: Services for Consumers
Use this website to find physicians or acupuncturists in Texas, verify a physician's license, file a complaint, view recent disciplinary actions against physicians, and more.
Flu and Flu Shots
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department: Flu Shot Clinics
Places in the Austin/Travis County area where you can get a flu shot free of charge. There is a suggested donation of $10.
Centers for Disease Control 2009 H1N1 Flu
Information specific to the U.S. about the development of the H1N1 flu including an up-to-date map showing flu symptoms as reported across the States. Also includes info on how to stay health, traveling, and much more.
Flu Clinic Locator
Find a flu shot clinic. Provided by the American Lung Association.
Flu.gov
Information to assist individuals, families, schools, and workplaces plan and prepare for the flu provided by the Dept. of Health and Human Services.
Top Ten Health Websites
As chosen by the Medical Library Association (MLA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Information on specific diseases and conditions, injury and violence safety, healthy living, environmental health, and more.
En Español
Family Doctor
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
A huge amount of information on topics such as healthy living, making medical choices, women and men's health, advocacy, and over the counter drugs. Complete with a number of health tools including a dictionary and doctor locator.
En Español
HIV InSite
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
"Comprehensive, up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and policy from the University of California San Francisco."
HealthFinder
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
"Key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet." It "links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations."
En Español
Kidshealth
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Website that can be used by kids, teens, and parents including information on general health, growth and development, emotions and behavior, medical problems, pregnancy and newborns, nutrition and fitness and more.
En Español
Mayo Clinic
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Includes information on specific diseases and condition, drugs and supplements, treatment decisions, and healthy living. You can also ask specialists a question, utilize various health tools, and more.
MedlinePlus
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Helps answer health questions using authoritative information from the National Library of Medicine. Includes access to medical journal articles, a medical encyclopedia, drug and treatment info, health news, and more.
En Español
For health info in over 40 different languages click here
National Cancer Institute
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information about specific types of cancer including treatments, clinical trials, prevention and causes, and more.
En Español
New York Online Access to Health (NOAH)
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information on a wide variety of health topics.
En Español
Información en Español
AARP Health
This site provides general health news and information, disease- and condition-specific information, a doctor and hospital search tool, Medicare and health insurance information, long-term care information, and more.
En Español
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families
Provides resources about HIV and AIDS, education and training information, policy and advocacy, and more.
En Español
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Includes information on specific diseases, syndromes, and broken bones, treatment and rehabilitation, sports and exercise, prevention and safety, and more. Also includes an orthopaedist directory.
En Español and other languages
American Dental Association: Public Health Information
Information on various oral health topics, news, a glossary, and more.
En Español
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
Includes information on diabetes and diabetes prevention, nutrition and recipes, weight loss and exercise, diabetes research, message boards, and more.
En Español
American Heart Association: HeartHub
Information on cardiovascular disease and stroke including videos, quick facts, answers from the experts, the latest medical presentations, a number of health centers, recipes, a heart risk calculator, and more.
En Español, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese
American Lung Association
Includes information on various lung diseases, current research, treatments, tobacco control, air quality, allergies, asthma, quitting smoking, and more.
En Español
Alzheimer's Association
Includes basic information on Alzheimer's and living with Alzheimer's as well as chat rooms and message boards used to communicate with other caregivers and families of people with Alzheimer's.
En Español
American Cancer Society
Organization that provides support for and a wealth of information to cancer patients and survivors and family and friends of cancer sufferers.
En Español
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Information on specific diseases and conditions, injury and violence safety, healthy living, environmental health, and more.
En Español
Deciphering Medspeak
Helps translate commonly used "medspeak" encountered when interacting with health professionals or reading health information. Includes disease-specific versions.
En Español
Family Doctor
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
A huge amount of information on topics such as healthy living, making medical choices, women and men's health, advocacy, and over the counter drugs. Complete with a number of health tools including a dictionary and doctor locator.
En Español
Family Health
Includes latest news and publications on various health topics, tips for healthy occasions (such as prom, Halloween, etc.), general healthy living tips, and more.
En Español
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health (OWH)
Includes free publications/fact sheets on women's health, links to other women's health websites, and info on a number of women's health topics.
En Español and other languages
Health & Wellness Resource Center
(Requires an Austin Public Library Card)
"Includes information from the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary, and the Medical and Health Information Directory. Also find information about drugs, the latest health news, and health assessment tools."
En Español
HealthFinder
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
"Key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet." It "links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations."
En Español
HealthLink Plus
Provides librarian recommended links to health websites regarding general health issues, nutrition and healthy living, diseases and conditions, alternative medicine, and much more.
En Español
Kidshealth
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Website that can be used by kids, teens, and parents including information on general health, growth and development, emotions and behavior, medical problems, pregnancy and newborns, nutrition and fitness and more.
En Español
March of Dimes: Pregnancy and Newborn Health Education Center
An enormous amount of info on every stage of pregnancy including caring for your newborn and becoming pregnant. Includes audio, video, blogs, and other interactive media.
En Español
MedlinePlus
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Helps answer health questions using authoritative information from the National Library of Medicine. Includes access to medical journal articles, a medical encyclopedia, drug and treatment info, health news, and more.
En Español
For health info in over 40 different languages click here
MedlinePlus: Men's Health
Includes information on specific conditions, latest news, treatments, diagnoses and symptoms, prevention and screening, and more. Also includes the latest research, a reference library, and various health related tools.
En Español, Chinese, and Korean
MedLine Plus: Pregnancy
Includes a guide to staying healthy during pregnancy, prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and more.
En Español
MedlinePlus Seniors' Health Issues
Includes basic health information, health news, prevention and screening information, healthy living information, health tools and tutorials, links to a number of reference books, current research, and more.
En Español
MedLine Plus: Teenage Pregnancy
Includes information about having a healthy pregnancy, tips for parents to help their daughters avoid teenage pregnancy, coping with teenage pregnancy, and more.
En Español
MedlinePlus: Women's Health
Includes information on mammograms and pregnancy, statistics, specific health conditions and diseases, health check tools, and more.
En Español
National Cancer Institute
*Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information about specific types of cancer including treatments, clinical trials, prevention and causes, and more.
En Español
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
Information on various digestive diseases, statistics, clinical trials, NDDIC publications, and more.
En Español
National Eye Institute (NEI) Health Information
Information on diseases and disorders, research, basic eye anatomy, eye care resources, NEI publications and materials, and more.
En Español
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Includes disease- and condition-specific information, news, journal articles, and clinical trials.
En Español
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information on specific mental illnesses, statistics, clinical trials, medications, getting support, and more.
En Español
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Use the disorder index to find information on treatments, prognoses, clinical research, and related organizations for various neurological disorders.
En Español
National Institute on Aging
Provides publications on a variety of health topics, Alzheimer's disease information, and clinical trials information.
En Español
National Stroke Association
Includes information on risk factors, prevention, and recovery from stroke. Plus, stroke information specific to women, men, African Americans, and caregivers as well as information about medical and EMS professionals.
En Español
New York Online Access to Health (NOAH)
* Ranked one of the "Top Ten Most Useful Websites" by the Medical Library Association
Find information on a wide variety of health topics.
En Español
Urology Health (American Urological Association)
Information about the association, adult and pediatric urological conditions, and a tool to find an urologist.
En Español
Women's Health
Includes information on women's health topics, health statistics, several health tools, a variety of health publications, and information in Spanish.
En Español
Return to Research Guide Index
|
Have problems, questions, or comments?
Ask a Librarian! Get the answers you need!
APL Privacy Statement
Funded in whole or in part by a Loan Star Libraries Grant authorized by the Texas Legislature and awarded by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to the Austin Public Library.
|
| 
