Informed Patient Guide
Evaluating Health Information
- Evaluating Health Information on the Internet (National Cancer Institute)
- User's Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on the Web (Medical Library Association)
- See also Evaluating Online Health Information
Health Records
- Electronic Health Records (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
- Family History (MedlinePlus)
- How to Create a Personal Health Record (American Health Information Management Association)
- Personal Health Records (MedlinePlus)
- Privacy and Your Health Information (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
Choosing a Doctor or Health Service
- Choosing a Doctor or Health Care Service (MedlinePlus)
- Choosing Quality Care (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
- DrScore (DrScore.com)
This site allows patients to find and post ratings of their doctors.
These ratings primarily concern patient experiences with their
physicians and do not include authoritative reviews of medical expertise
or skills. - Hospital Compare (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
- NC Hospital Performance Report (NC Quality Center)
- NC Medical Board
Look up the public record of any licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in North Carolina; learn how to file a complaint; and view reports on Board actions. - Nursing Home Compare (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
- Quality Check (Joint Commission)
- Selecting a Nursing Home (NC Health Care Facilities Association)
- Vitals.com (Vitals.com & MDX Medical, Inc.)
This site allows patients to find and post ratings of their doctors.
These ratings primarily concern patient experiences with their
physicians and do not include authoritative reviews of medical expertise
or skills.
Talking With Your Doctor
- Be an Active Member of Your Health Care Team (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Building a Strong Partnership with Your Healthcare Professional (Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals)
- Patient Safety (Patient Education Institute)
- Preparation for Surgery (American College of Surgeons)
- Talking With Your Doctor (MedlinePlus)
- Understanding Medical Words (National Library of Medicine)
Patient & Family Issues
- Advance Directives (MedlinePlus)
- Advance Health Care Directive Registry (NC Department of the Secretary of State)
Three Advance Health Care Directives forms and an Organ Donor Card form are located here for your information and use. - Advance Medical Directives (Patient Education Institute)
- Caregivers (MedlinePlus)
- Duke University Program on Psychiatric Advance Directives (Duke University Medical Center)
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (Patient Education Institute)
- End of Life Issues (MedlinePlus)
- Patient Safety (MedlinePlus)
- Patient's Bill of Rights (American Cancer Society)
These principles make clear what patients should expect from their health care providers. - Personalized Help (Patient Advocate Foundation)
- The Living Will (Patient Education Institute)
Resources compiled by Christie Silbajoris, Health Sciences Library, UNC-Chapel Hill.
