| Agencies and Organizations |
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Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. AHCPR, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "the government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves." As part of Health and Human Services, "AHCPR's broad programs of research bring practical, science-based information to medical practitioners and to consumers and other health care purchasers." Information is in English and Spanish.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. This is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission statement is to "prevent exposure and adverse human health effect and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment." This page provides information on national alerts, health advisories. It also has a fact page on toxic and provides information for everyone (one page is parents, kids, and teachers). In addition, there is a newsletter and health advisories.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. This site has a bilingual question and answer page (French and English), internet links, conference listing, mailing links, products, and news releases. From the center's mission statement: CCOHS "promotes a safe and healthy working environment by providing information and advice about occupational health and safety."
Center for Disease Control. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States."
Combined Health Information Database. "CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources." You can do a simple search with just one topic or a more detailed search with more terms. However, when you conduct searches, you typically have to send away for the information. Not as on-line friendly as it may appear. A multitude of information if you are able to wait for snail mail.
Food and Drug Administration Home Page. "FDA's mission is to promote and protect the public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way, and monitoring products for continued safety after they are in use. Our work is a blending of law and science aimed at protecting consumers." The site includes information on children and tobacco, animal drugs, medical devices, toxicology research, and MedWatch, the FDA's medical product reporting program. Simple graphics and user-friendly interface.
Health Action Information Network. "HAIN is a non-profit non-government organization established in 1985 based in Quezon City, the Philippines. It is involved in health education and research and mainly works with community-based organizations involved in health and development." Their work covers a wide range of health issues with emphasis on reproductive health (including prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and other reproductive tract infections); environmental health, and the appropriate use of medicines. In the first few pages it appears that you have to send away for information. But, if you keep going deeper into the website there is a lot of excellent information that is presented in a easy-to-read fashion.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM "conducts and supports basic and applied research and training and disseminates information on complementary and alternative medicine to practitioners and the public." The Center "covers a broad range of healing philosophies (schools of thought), approaches, and therapies that mainstream Western (conventional) medicine does not commonly use, accept, study, understand, or make available. A few of the many CAM practices include the use of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, and traditional oriental medicine to promote well-being or treat health conditions. People use CAM treatments and therapies in a variety of ways. Therapies may be used alone, as an alternative to conventional therapies, or in addition to conventional, mainstream therapies, in what is referred to as a complementary or an integrative approach. Many CAM therapies are called holistic, which generally means they consider the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects."
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. Clearinghouse for information and links on juvenile diabetes. "JDRF is the world's leading nonprofit, nongovernmental funder of diabetes research. JDRF structures its research on a business-world model to ensure that resources are spent most effectively to accelerate progress toward finding a cure. JDRF is the only major diabetes organization focused exclusively on research."
National Hemophilia Foundation. Provides information on news, information, conferences and events, programs, buyers guide, and resources. The NHF "makes an important difference in the lives of people and families with bleeding disorders. It has a national presence, chapters throughout the country, and an intricate communications network bringing health care professionals and consumers the latest bleeding disorders news."
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Provides health information and education, research, and news. The Institute "conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports much of the clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related sub-specialty fields as well as many basic science disciplines. The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, inborn errors of metabolism, endocrine disorders, mineral metabolism, digestive diseases, nutrition, urology and renal disease, and hematology. Basic research studies include biochemistry, nutrition, pathology, histochemistry, chemistry, physical, chemical, and molecular biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. NIDDK extramural research is organized into divisions of program areas:
National Institutes of Health. "The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by: conducting research in its own laboratories, supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad, helping in the training of research investigators, and fostering communication of medical information. The NIH is one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Services which, in turn, is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Comprised of 27 separate components, mainly Institutes and Centers, NIH has 75 buildings on more than 300 acres in Bethesda, MD." The site includes the NIH search engine, health information, funding opportunities, and scientific resources.
World Federation of Hemophilia. Provides information in different languages. It contains a library, treatment center directory, product recalls, events, "ask the doc," and links for more information. "Through its various health care development programs and publications, the World Federation of Hemophilia works to introduce, improve, and maintain care for people with hemophilia and related bleeding disorders around the world. Our goal is quality health care for everyone with hemophilia or a related bleeding disorder."
World Health Organization. "The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."