Online Resources
The internet is a wonderful source of information about health and disease. Unfortunately, it can also be a source of misinformation.
The links below are for the general reader (non-technical information) and health care professionals seeking patient education materials. These links are designed to give you reliable, easy-to-understand discussions of health and safety issues.
While these links may help to keep you informed about your health, you shouldn’t try to diagnose yourself, based on what you read here.
There is no substitute for medical care and advice from your doctor.
MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine) – MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health Web site for patients and their families and friends. Information on diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand.
MLA Top Health Websites – The Medical Library Association’s Consumer and Patient Health Information Section (CAPHIS) evaluates a number of websites based on specific criteria. The links on this website are not ranked but in alphabetical order and are “deemed particularly useful.”
Cancer Resources – Our Cancer Resources webpage includes trustworthy websites recommended by the Delaney Medical Library at Valley View Hospital.
The Merck Manual Consumer Version – First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.
ESPAÑOL – Biblioteca de Connie Delaney
Technical Information
For healthcare professionals and general readers seeking technical information:
Understanding Health News – The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes the information that might be missing from health news stories and the details you need to check for making good health decisions.
9 Questions to Help You Make Sense of Scientific Research – The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health provides an overview of research papers including: parts of a scientific paper, study goals, clinical trials and bias.
PubMed – PubMed is the largest available database of biomedical abstracts and citations. PubMed is provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Clinical Trials Resources – Clinical trials are research studies using human volunteers to add to the medical knowledge related to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of diseases or conditions. These links are recommended by the Delaney Medical Library to help you become more familiar with clinical trials, the process for participating in a trial and investigating trials that are underway or completed.