The following guides explain how to use the internet and mobile tools to manage your health care. Topics range from evaluating health information and buying health insurance, to searching for medical information using Google and choosing a good health app. Click on any of the guides below to get started.
Buying Prescription Medicine Online
The internet makes it easy to buy prescription medicine online. However, it’s important to be careful because there are many fake medicines out there. This Consumer Safety Guide by the Food and Drug Administration will help you safely search for and buy prescription medicine online.
Evaluating Health Information
When searching the internet, it is important to be able to separate good information from bad. This guide by MedlinePlus will help you decide if online health information is accurate and current. To learn more about evaluating health information online, watch this tutorial from the National Library of Medicine.
Find a Health Care Provider
Choosing the right health care provider is an important part of managing your health. Healthcare.gov offers this guide to help you find a provider that is right for you. For more information on where to search for doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers and services located in North Carolina, see North Carolina Directories and Services.
Finding a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials are an important part of the medical research process. These trials answer questions that help researchers decide how well a drug or treatment works. To learn more about clinical trials and where to find one, search the National Institutes of Health’s clinical research trials database.
How to Choose a Good Health App
With so many health apps out there, how do you choose which one is right for you? The guide How to Choose a Good Health App by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a number of tips for separating the good apps from the bad.
How to Choose a Health Plan
Choosing health insurance can be confusing. The guide How to Choose a Health Plan by MedlinePlus helps you compare your options so you get the services you need for a price that fits your budget. For more information about health insurance in North Carolina, see Health Insurance SmartNC by the NC Department of Insurance.
Medical Encyclopedia
Search this Medical Encyclopedia by MedlinePlus to find definitions and explanations of diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. The encyclopedia also has photographs and illustrations.
Providers and Services: An Overview
Have you ever wondered what an internist does, or where to find a support group? Check out our Overview of the different providers and services that are available to help manage your condition.
PubMed Tutorial
PubMed is a free online database with over 26 million articles on topics like medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, health care systems, and preclinical sciences. This PubMed Tutorial will show you how to search for and get articles from PubMed.
Search for Medical Information on Google
You can use Google to search for medical information that has been reviewed by doctors. Click here to learn how to search google to find information on symptoms, treatments, and medical conditions.
Understanding Mobile Apps: Questions About your Privacy
Mobile applications can help you manage your health, like tracking calorie intake and physical activity. However, they can also pose a risk to your privacy. To learn about mobile apps and how they may affect your privacy, read Questions About Your Privacy, by the Federal Trade Commission.