Help for Consumers

Communication tools

Ask Me 3 - National Patient Safety Foundation
Improving Health Literacy, a message from Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
Questions are the Answer - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
SPAT, is a research-tested tool for evaluating the reliability of a Web site's content. Looking for health information online? Use the SPAT (Site, Publisher, Audience, Timeliness) method to assess whether Web site content is trustworthy, up-to-date, and appropriate to your needs.
Take Charge of Your Health Care, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' "Quick Guide to Healthy Living.

Ask for health info you can understand: Handout for personal health advocacy

Resources

BAM! Body and Mind, an online destination from CDC for kids 9-13 years old created to give them information to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Health Information from the National Institute on Aging
Healthy Roads Media contains health information on more than 100 topics in 19 languages and is supported by the National Library of Medicine.
Healthcare 411 is an audio podcast series produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Healthcare 411 gives consumers information they can use in their health care decision making.
Influenza self-assessment tool and H1N1 information from Emory University
Plain language educational materials from Health Literacy Now
Iowa Women's Health Information Center
KidsHealth, with sections for parents, kids and teens.
Medline Plus: Encyclopedia
Medline Plus: Dictionary
Medline Plus Spanish
My Plate, replaces USDA's Food Pyramid
The People's Pharmacy podcasts, newspaper articles, Q&A documents and more.
WebMD
Wellness Information Zone, plain language information about common diseases and medicines, healthy lifestyle choices, the medical and insurance systems, and more.

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