The HSLS consumer health information Web site has been redesigned, allowing for quick and easy retrieval of information regarding patient education and safety, service programs, HSLS consumer health collections, and more.
To conduct a search, users have a selection of five resource tabs, described below. Results are displayed, using Vivisimo® technology, with clusters presented to the left. These clusters group results into related topics or categories and allow users to quickly narrow a search.
Resource tabs include:
MedlinePlus: provides easy access to a free, comprehensive and reliable Web site for up-to-date health information from the National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, along with other government agencies and health-related organizations. Included is drug information, health information in multiple languages, surgery videos, and more.
Patient Education: allows users to search for patient education information on such topics as catheter care or hypertension. Information is presented from various sources, including materials produced by UPMC and MD Consult.
Patient Safety: resources will be useful to both healthcare professionals and their patients. Information can be retrieved from UPMC patient education safety pages, National Patient Safety Foundation, Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. A link to UPMC’s Condition H (Help) can be found on each result page.
PittCat for Consumer Health: can be used to find books, magazines, videos, etc. located within the HSLS Consumer Health collections at UPMC Shadyside, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. For users not having access to HSLS resources, a link to search the public libraries of Allegheny County for the same or similar titles is available.
Local Support and Services: directs users to HelpConnections, the United Way of Allegheny County’s directory of health and human services programs and agencies in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. Programs included are smoking cessation, credit counseling, and support groups for cancer patients or substance abusers.
Besides the resource tabs, the Health News section allows consumers and health care workers easy access to current national and local health news.
~ Michelle Burda