North Carolina Introduces New Health Web Site at Pittsboro Memorial Library
Reprinted by permission of The Chatham News.
Brandon Evans, The Chatham News
1/23/2003
On Jan. 14 the Pittsboro Memorial Library hosted the official announcement of a new North Carolina based website that will probably become a precedent in the field of health care.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), has created a website called "NC Health Info." The website enables North Carolinians to locate nearby health services and health care professionals best suited for a particular health need.
"The need is great for 'NC Health Info'," US Congressman David Price said.
Price was one of several local and state political leaders in attendance.
"It doesn't surprise me that North Carolina is the first to have this," Price said. "I think other states will seek to replicate this tool once they see it is working."
"NC Health Info" is tied into "Medline Plus." "Medline Plus" was created by NLM and has existed for several years. It allows online users to broaden their understanding about any one of hundreds of diseases and other physical ailments.
Now, after one learns details about a particular ailment on "Medline Plus," they could then logon to "NC Health Info" and find the best and most appropriate local help for their particular ailment or other health related need, such as care giving or support groups for anything from cancer survivors to substance abusers.
Currently, "NC Health Info" provides over 1,400 links in North Carolina to local medical resources.
"1,400 is just the tip of the iceberg," UNC Health Sciences librarian Joanne Marshall said. "We still need help from all health colleagues in the state to get health information for all.
"There is so much info about health on the Internet, but this is good because it is a trusted site."
UNC medical librarians review all new sites connected to "NC Health Info" in order to insure that the local resource is a valid and trustworthy location to give medical help, said Lisa Rae, director of development and communications at UNC's Health Sciences Library.
Carol Jenkins, director of UNC's Health Science Library, said Pittsboro's Memorial Library was chosen because of its rural location. That is because the new site is geared especially toward helping those who live in rural areas access to the nearest health professionals.
Jenkins was the originator of the idea to create "NC Health Info."
"We recently performed a health survey in North Carolina, said Leah Devlin, head of North Carolina's Dept. of Health and Human Services. "The number one thing people wanted was to have more access to health concerns. This tool helps poor and rural citizens find an appropriate health professional."
"I'm gonna bookmark this site," NC Rep. Joe Hackney said "If everyone bookmarked this site think how much it would benefit the overall health of North Carolinians."
Although the official notification of the new site occurred on Jan. 14, the site began operating in November. On the first day, over 25,000 people visited the site.
Anyone wanting to learn more about local health care providers can logon at www.nchealthinfo.org. For more general health related information, visit Medline Plus at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.
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