Consumer health basics
Learning Center
Medical credentials and degrees explained
Confused by the credentials for doctors, nurses and physician assistants? Get definitions of common credentials and learn why they matter.
What is compassionate use of experimental drugs?
Compassionate use is a way for people with life-threatening illnesses to get access to experimental treatments.
Telehealth: Technology meets health care
From patient portals to wearable monitoring devices, telehealth gives you the tools to better manage your health. Are you taking advantage of these tools?
Personal health records and patient portals
Personal health records and patient portals make it easy to access your medical information using your computer or smartphone.
Create a family health record
Prepare for a family emergency by gathering important details about your family's health. For each person, gather the following information: medical conditions, allergies, medications, blood type, doctor's name and phone number, and insurance information. Also include advance directives, the legal documents that outline your decisions about health care, such as whether to use life-support machines.
Web savvy: Choose health sites with care
The web is awash with health information, but how can you duck the quacks? Use this checklist to evaluate what you find online: 1. Check dates. Search for the most recent information you can find. 2. Check the source. Look for articles that refer to published medical research and have been reviewed by qualified professionals. 3. Double-check what you find. Visit several sites and compare information.
Living wills and advance directives for medical decisions
Living wills and other advance directives describe your treatment preferences in end-of-life situations when you can't speak for yourself.
Emergency health information: Keep your personal and family records within reach
Emergency preparedness includes making sure you can quickly access critical health information for you and your family.
After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?
After a flood, don't eat foods or take medications that have come into contact with flood water or contaminated water.
Do you have a living will?
Life-threatening situations can happen to anyone, so it's important to have a living will or other advance directive. These documents spell out your preferences regarding medical treatments you would or would not want to keep you alive. You can also outline your preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. By planning ahead, you can get the medical care you want and save your family from having to make tough decisions in a crisis.
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