Consumer Health Resources

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emblem of Department of Health and Human Services

The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 (sometimes known as ACA, PPACA, or “Obamacare”).

The law has 3 primary goals:

Make affordable health insurance available to more people. The law provides consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the federal poverty level. (Not all states have expanded their Medicaid programs.)
Support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally.

Open enrollment information including dates for enrollment and options for special insurance coverage

Consumer Health

Tulsa City-County Library has an extensive collection of reference, circulating, and electronic resources promoting consumer health education. Below are reliable, unbiased print and electronic resources addressing different health information needs. Research family health, choosing a healthcare professional for your needs, and much more.

Content

Resources for Families

MedlinePlus Children's Health

Use the “List of all Topics” or alphabet to search. (Some topics are in Spanish).

KidsHealth

KidsHealth is the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. This award-winning site is created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media.

National Women's Health Information Center

Girls’ and Women’s health topics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Family Health page

Helping families be safer, healthier and stronger. Also available in Spanish.

U.S. News and World Report: Best Children's Hospitals

Get to know the best children’s hospitals of the current year according to this reputable news magazine.

Resources for Hispanic Persons and Families

National Alliance for Hispanic Health

The NAHH is the oldest and largest network of U.S. health and human service providers for Hispanic consumers.

Food and Drug Administration (Spanish Language site)

The FDA seeks to empower the growing Hispanic population to take control of their own health through providing a variety of resources in Spanish.

Su Familia Hotline

The National Hispanic Family Health Helpline provides free reliable and confidential health information in Spanish and English to help callers navigate the health system.

Indian Health Services

Indian Health Service

IHS makes available select information on specific healthcare topics concerning American Indian and Alaska Natives. The information provides an overview as well as detailed descriptions of issues that concern all aspects of the Native American Community.

Choosing Your Healthcare Professionals

Choosing a Doctor

DocFinder

The Association of State Medical Board Executives maintains DocFinder website. Information on Oklahoma doctors is available.

Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision

This public website is designed to serve the public with their individual search for providers.

Medical and Health Information Directory

Available in the Research Center at Central, this is a comprehensive guide to medical and health information. Medical and Health Information Directory provides a one-stop source to medical and health information.

Certification Matters

Published by the American Board of Medical Specialties, Certification Matters is a reliable source in researching certification status of American doctors. Additionally, there is a toll free hotline 800-733-2267 and the American Medical Association can be reached at 312-464-5000 for information on training, specialties and board certification.

Health Grades

Basic Information on physicians, hospitals and nursing homes in specific U. S. cities, and a very basic evaluation (1-5 star rating) of hospitals' performance in various specialties is free on this Web site. For a fee, you can get detailed evaluations of physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Choosing a Hospital

Hospital Compare

This Web site allows you to select hospitals and compare them on their performance on specific medical procedures.

U.S. News and World Report: Best Hospitals

Every Year the U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals rankings cover 170 hospitals in 16 adult specialties. Unranked hospitals in this specialty are listed in alphabetical order after the ranked hospitals.

Comparative Guide to American Hospitals

Part of the Research Center's print collection, the Comparative Guide to American Hospitals provides a snapshot profile of each of the nations 4,834 hospitals.

Resources for Common Serious Health Concerns

Cancer

Cancer

Get everything you need to know about cancer, from the basics to detailed information on more than 70 cancer types.

American Society for Clinical Oncology

Trusted, compassionate information for people with cancer and their families and caregivers, from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the voice of the world’s cancer physicians and oncology professionals.

MedlinePlus-Cancers

National Cancer Institute

Find information and resources that fit your needs as a patient, caregiver, health professional, researcher, or other visitor.

Stroke

American Stroke Society

All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

Know Stroke

The National Institutes of Health through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) developed the Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. campaign to help educate the public about the symptoms of stroke and the importance of getting to the hospital quickly.

National Stroke Association

Whether you are a stroke survivor, caregiver, or healthcare professional we strive to bring you the most up to date, unique and comprehensive resources for stroke. From online education to resources such as StrokeSmart magazine and support groups—we are here to help.

Heart Disease

American Heart Association

The AHA has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.

CDC-Heart Disease

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. You can greatly reduce your risk for CAD through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication.

MedlinePlus-Blood, Heart, and Circulation

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Providing global leadership in research, training, and education to prevent and treat heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (COPD) and Related Health Issues

American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is leading the way in helping all Americans breathe easier. Thanks to our donors, volunteers, program and event participants, and staff, we are America’s trusted source for lung health education, lung disease research, support, programs, services and advocacy.

COPD Foundation

The COPD Foundation was established to undertake initiatives that result in expanded services for COPDand to improve the lives of individuals affected by COPD. The Foundation’s activities focus on achieving these results through research, education and advocacy programs that will lead to prevention and a cure for this disease.

MedlinePlus-Asthma

MedlinePlus-Chronic Bronchitis

MedlinePlus-COPD

MedlinePlus-Emphysema

Unintentional Injuries/Safety

CDC-Injury Prevention & Control

In the United States, injury is the leading cause of death for children and adults between the ages of 1 and 45.

Consumer Products Safety Commission

CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

MedlinePlus-Safety Issues

National Highway Traffic Safety Commission

Know if there is a safety problem with your vehicles, tires or car seat, and how to get it fixed.

Oklahoma State Department of Health-Injury Prevention Service

The mission of the Injury Prevention Service is to improve the health of Oklahomans by working in collaboration with communities and stakeholders to identify injury problems, then developing, implementing, and evaluating environmental modifications, policy, and educational interventions.