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HEALTHCARE: U.S.

Below are resources on the American healthcare industry, which are concerned with analysis and evaluation of the industry.  Some include federal government sites which provide consumer-oriented information to users, access to agencies with specialized healthcare missions, and statistical data.  Other issues covered include healthcare profiles for individual states, public health, and healthcare issues for specific populations.

This list is not concerned with websites whose primary function is consumer information about medical conditions and diseases.  However, some of the websites featured in this guide contain consumer information as a component.


Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)

•  This agency, "... the health services research arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)," is the federal agency responsible for federal research on "... health care quality, costs, outcomes, and patient safety"
•  Links to consumer information/resources for the following: health plans, prescriptions, quality of care, prevention/wellness, and healthcare information for children, women, minorities, and news
•  Also links to clinical information, research findings for specific situations (primary care, long-term care, managed care), quality assessment
•  Also available in Spanish
•  Best official information source for consumer assessment issues dealing with healthcare in the U.S.


Business & Company Resource Center Database

•  Johnson & Wales University database restricted to the J&W Univ. community and available from the "Databases" link on the J&W Univ. Library's homepage.
•  Primarily a database for in-depth profiles for over 450,000 companies (nationally and internationally), the BCRC also provides industry information
•  Searching by SIC/NAICS codes provides rankings of companies within an industry by sales and allows a comparative comparison between companies
•  "Industry Overviews" (provided by Datamonitor Industry Market Research) provides industry data (in this case, healthcare-related industries) which includes an executive summary, market value, market sectors, market shares, market forecasts, competitive landscape)
•  Also links to journal and magazine articles (primarily full-text, others with citation-only) for the industry and its related activities
•  Best online database for comprehensive company information; also excellent for its industry analysis and links


Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

•  "The lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people — at home and abroad," the CDC is an affiliate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
•  CDC's 10 "National Centers" and 2 "Offices" research and implement policy for such areas as birth defects/developmental disabilities, environmental health, infectious diseases, injury prevention/safety, related concerns
•  Maintains constantly updated alerts/"fact sheets"/news releases regarding epidemics, related public health problems; includes "Traveler's Health", "Public Emergency and Preparedness," alert services
•  "Health Topics A to Z" is a browsable directory of links to over 400 health topics/issues relating to environmental health, foodborne illnesses, communicable diseases, bioterrorism; many of these topics/issues are sub-divided into sub-categories and include links to CDC-produced research and publications
•  Includes information regarding CDC's products, programs, projects, publications
•  Many resources on this page are available in Spanish
•  Best official source for any information/updates on epidemics (SARS, AIDS, West Nile Virus) and related health threats


Duke Health Policy Gateway

•  Sponsored by the Center for Health Policy, Law and Management, Duke University
•  This site is a huge directory of sites for health policy issues for all levels and areas
•  "What's What in Health Policy" links to international, national and state health policy topics and includes judicial/legislative concerns in addition to executive/administration functions
•  "Key Health Policy Issue Areas" links to 13 policy areas, including health promotion, health expenditures, access/utilization and health law/bioethics
•  The information provided in the directory includes a wide range of agencies, reports, statistical sources, many of which are annotated
•  Links to resources for state health data are extensive and provide additional state data which puts much of the healthcare data into perspective; also links to regional health profiles
•  Includes numerous links to policy organizations, professional associations, universities, foundations, media/journals, meetings/conferences
•  Highly recommended; certainly one of the most comprehensive — and best-meta-sites currently available; if it deals with healthcare policy, it's here!


FirstGov for Consumers: Health

•  Sponsored by "Consumer.gov," the federal government's gateway to consumer information
•  This page is a directory of health-related sites for the following topics: aging/elder care, health-oriented consumer education, insurance, diseases/medical conditions, drugs, women's health issues, personal care (weight control, nutrition, fitness, health risk assessment)
•  Also links to advice/information from federal health agencies, news ("In the Spotlight")
•  This is one of the most widely used health web sites, and rightly so; designed with consumers in mind, it's the best website to use to begin health-oriented research


Health and Medical Information

•  Maintained by Susan Xue for the University of Colorado Libraries at Boulder
•  Links to over 30 websites for health-oriented federal agencies, programs, projects
•  Each link is accompanied by a concise but incisive annotation
•  Highly recommended; one of the best websites for accessing the federal government's most important online health resources from one place


Health and Medical Statistics

•  Maintained by the University of Maryland Libraries
•  Directory of annotated links to the following statistical sources: U.S. (national, state, metropolitan area, county), international, meta-sites
•  Also discusses print resources, many of which should be available in academic libraries or large public libraries
•  This excellent site is well-organized for easy navigation and the quality of its annotations; a great place for beginning research on health/medical statistics


Healthcare Facilities, Services, Supplies & Pharmaceuticals Industry Data Finder

•  Maintained by Cole Library, Rensselaer at Hartford
•  Research guide for the healthcare-related industries, consisting of print and online resources
•  Topics include SIC & NAICS codes, industry profiles, financial/statistical data, forecasts, current news, professional/industry organizations, professional/industry publications, companies
•  Annotations accompany some citations and links
•  Print sources should be available in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  One of the best resource guides to the industry for its extensive scope, well-chosen links, and ease-of-navigation


Kaisernetwork

•  Sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), whose mission is "... to provide timely, reliable, and non-partisan information on national health issues to policymakers, the media, and the general public"
•  "This free and comprehensive multimedia service connects users to the events, people, information, and research that shape health policy"
•  "HealthCast" provides continually updated information regarding events, conferences, Congressional hearings
•  "Daily Reports" are e-mail health-related news; also includes a searchable archive
•  "Health Poll Search" provides public opinion data for 29 topics (with over 300 sub-topics); also contains a searchable archive
•  "Links" connect to directory of links to the following: academic research institutes, advocacy/education organizations, professional organizations, foundations, government agencies, related resources for health policy
•  Highly recommended; the best website online for comprehensive, up-to-date information on healthcare issues; no other site provides such an extensive amount of information in such a timely fashion


Medicaid Resource Book

•  Sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
•  "Written to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program," this is a full-text, downloadable book, which covers Medicaid eligibility, benefits, financing and administration"
•  Includes appendices, which include legislative history of the program, indexes to its statutes/regulations, and "selected resources"
•  This is one of the best, most comprehensive documents for understanding and utilizing the Medicaid program


Medicare: The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare

•  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
•  Official site for accurate Medicare information for providers/professionals and beneficiaries
•  Provides information on eligibility/enrollment, claims/appeals, nursing homes (comparative data), dialysis facilities (comparative data), assistance programs
•  Best official site; well-designed; continually updated and easy-to-navigate


National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

•  "The nation's principal health statistics agency," this federal agency is an affiliate of the "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
•  Site includes information regarding NCHS's programs, projects, news, publications, events, listservs
•  Site's most prominent feature, "FASTATS A to Z," is a directory of over 190 links to health statistical websites for general health information, medical conditions, population-specific patient issues, state health profile information
•  "FASTATS A to Z" also provides state profiles which include links to state health agencies/departments, vital records information for the state, "Kids Count"
•  Links to federal surveys for a variety of health care topics (nursing homes, health insurance, vital statistics)
•  Searchable
•  Best federal source for health statistics; first place to turn, especially for state health information


National Health Information Center (NHIC)

•  An affiliate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the NHIC is a "health information referral service" whose purpose is to connect users to federal government health agencies and professional organizations which provide health information
•  "Health Information Resource Database" allows keyword searching for over 1,800 agencies/organizations; each "hit" (entry) provides contact information, short abstract, publications information (also includes e-mail and website addresses when available)
•  "Keyword List" provides a browsable directory of terms/topics which link directly to websites
•  Also includes a directory of links to toll-free telephone numbers of agencies/organizations and links to federal sites for information centers/clearinghouses
•  One of the best and most user-friendly resources for helping users to access health information directly and efficiently


National Institutes of Health (NIH)

•  "The steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation," this federal agency is an affiliate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
•  The NIH has the responsibility for 27 health institutes/centers charged with researching health conditions, developing national health policy, advancing health-oriented technology and co-ordinating research efforts with non-governmental professional/research organizations
•  "Health Information, an A-Z index of health resources," includes a browsable/searchable directory of over 800 topics; links to each topic include NIH-produced documents/advice on the topic, other documents/publications from reliable sources, related organizations
•  Site also provides information on NIH news/events, research resources/projects, jobs, employee directory
•  Highly recommended; this massive site is the best, most comprehensive federal site for the status of medical research; most of the information is useful to consumers as well as clinicians and other professionals in the health field


National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)

•  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NWHIC is the federal agency responsible for providing " ... a gateway to the vast array of Federal and other women's health information resources"
•  "Special Sections" links to sites for topical information for the health concerns of women, including body image, girls' health, hormone therapy, pregnancy
•  FAQ feature links to over 130 topics in 22 categories; sources of information are federal health agencies and professional associations/organizations
•  Includes additional resources for dictionaries/journals, health professional links, information on fellowships/residencies, immunization/screening schedules
•  Provides a toll-free call center
•  "What About Men's Health" focuses on men's health issues of concern to women
•  Many resources on this page are available in Spanish
•  Best official source for "one-stop shopping" for women's health information


Navigating the Health Care System: A Resource Guide for Consumers

•  Compiled by Judith Kronick, Lyman Maynard Stowe Library, Univ. of Connecticut Health Center
•  "This Guide is intended to assist patients and their families who are selecting health care providers and insurance coverage and want to gather background information to help them in the decision-making process"
•  This site is a directory of annotated websites and print resources for the following topics/issues: evaluating physicians/hospitals, health insurance/Medicare/managed care plans, healthcare resources associations/organizations, hospital care/long-term care/end of life decisions, privacy rights
•  Print resources may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Emphasis is on Connecticut resources (when available), but includes much information for anyone interested in utilizing the U.S. healthcare system to his/her best advantage
•  Complements "Patient Advocacy Resources: A Guide for Patients and Their Families"
•  This topic has been popular in recent years and similar sites to this one exist; this is one of the best, since it's very well-organized and the research tips it offers are useful to the layman


Patient Advocacy Resources: A Guide for Patients and Their Families

•  Compiled by Lynda Grayson, Lyman Maynard Stowe Library, Univ. of Connecticut Health Center
•  "This resource guide has been created to assist consumers in becoming advocates for their own health"
•  This site is a directory of annotated websites and print resources for the following topics/issues: patient advocacy, self-help groups, medical records, patient rights/privacy, informed consent, children's health issues, women's health issues, end-of-life decisions
•  Complements "Navigating the Health Care System: A Resource Guide for Consumers"
•  Print resources may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Emphasis is on Connecticut resources (when available), but includes much information for anyone interested in utilizing the U.S. healthcare system to his/her best advantage


Public Health Information Links

•  Sponsored by the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
•  Gateway site for links to public health resources, nationally and internationally
•  Links to federal agencies, state/local agencies, international agencies, agencies by country, health research centers
•  Also links to professional sites for the following: journals/publications, professional associations/organizations, non-governmental organizations, foundations/grant resources, educational/reference resources
•  Very comprehensive with a huge number of links; one of the best, most direct and comprehensive sources for public health organizations and resources at all levels


StateHealthFacts.org

•  Sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation
•  This site's mission is to provide "... the latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing and state legislation"
•  "50 State Comparisons" allows the user to compare data on the following: demographics and the economy, health status, health coverage and the uninsured, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare, health costs and budgets, managed care and health insurance, providers and service use, women's health, minority health, HIV/AlDS
•  "50 State Comparisons" may be keyword searched as well as browsed
• "Individual State Profiles" provide single-state data for each category listed in "50 State Comparisons"; also links to the state government's homepage, legislature, Medicaid agency
•  U.S. health data profile included
•  "Resources" provides access to a topical list, publications, glossary, e-mail update service
•  All sources of data are indentified (many are federal government sites)
•  One of the best - if not the best O health research sites for U.S. states; comprehensive, easy-to-navigate; excellent in all respects


Statistical Resources on the Web: Health

•  Maintained by Margaret York for the University of Michigan Documents Center (UMDC)
•  Browsable directory of online statistical websites for over 30 health-related areas, including the healthcare industry (health insurance, HMOs, nursing homes), vital statistics, health problems (AIDS, smoking, substance abuse, etc.)
•  Also links to "comprehensive" sites for the U.S., international sites
•  Excellent annotations accompany most links
•  Like other UMDC sites, this is one of the best of its kind for clarity, comprehensiveness and navigability


Transcultural and Multicultural Health Links

•  Compiled and maintained by Ellen Bosman, New Mexico State University Library
•  Directory of websites which deal with general Internet resources for transcultural/multicultural populations
•  "General Resources" links to bibliographies, essays/surveys, government websites, health profiles and general cultural diversity issues in healthcare delivery
•  Also links to population-specific healthcare concerns/issues for ethnic, racial, religious and other population groups (women, sexual minorities, refugees)
•  Excellent annotations accompany each link
•  Superb coverage of the multicultural aspects of medical care; one of the best, most user-friendly resources for understanding how healthcare delivery impacts diverse groups


Trust for America's Health (TFAH)

•  "A national non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the health and safety of all communities from current and emerging health threats by strengthening the fundamentals of our public health defenses"
•  Sponsored by the "Benjamin Spencer Fund"
•  Site provides information on health campaigns, community health forums and news (especially such public health issues as bioterrorism, infectious diseases)
•  Browsable by state for the following: disease clusters, birth defects tracking, cancer mapping data, state's viability regarding health tracking in general, state reports on lead hazards, air pollution, land contamination, CDC's "Cancer Burden Data Sheet"
•  Links to state health departments
•  Searchable
•  Excellent, especially for health profiles for states; one of the best places to research the relationship between public health and environmental hazards


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 6/03; updated 10/03; links last checked 12/07

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