U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America	Frequent Questions Search

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Overview: �The Department of Health and Human Services provides one of the richest and most reliable sources of consumer health information on the World Wide Web.� HHS documents on the Web include information on health and social issues, research-related data, and access to HHS services, including interactive sites.

For health information especially, the HHS sites are a unique resource.� Consumers and professionals can find extensive health information, including data produced or supported by HHS agencies, and links to other information sources.� The best starting point for consumers looking for health and human services information is the HHS homepage ( www.healthfinder.gov) is a gateway site to help consumers find health and human services information quickly. healthfinder� includes more than 5,700 links to federal, state, local, not-for-profit, university and other reliable consumer health resources.� The site includes the comprehensive "Health Library," which highlights prevention, wellness and other popular topics for quick and easy searches;� "Health News" with updated information; "Health Care" with information about providers and insurance; and "Just For You" with specific resources for all phases of life.� In 2001, the site was expanded to include healthfinder� espanol (< www.healthfinder.gov/espanol) to provide an easy-to-use Spanish-language consumer resource.� A special section, healthfinder�kids, also helps children learn how to be healthy.

MEDLINEplus ( www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus) contains reliable health information for consumers and health professionals from the world�s largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine.� MEDLINEplus has extensive information on about 500 diseases and conditions, as well as lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and dictionaries, health information in Spanish and other information of value to consumers.� MEDLINEplus is updated daily.

NIH HEALTH INFORMATION PAGE ( www.nih.gov/health) provides a single access point to the consumer health information resources of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world�s premiere health research institution.� Resources include a disease and condition subject index, access to hundreds of NIH consumer health publications and NIH�s clinical trials database.

MEDICARE.GOV ( www.medicare.gov) provides useful, accurate, and timely information to assist Medicare beneficiaries and advocates with health care related decisions.� A wide variety of tools are available on the site to give people information about Medicare Health Plans, Medigap Plans, Nursing Homes, Dialysis Facilities, Participating Physicians, Suppliers, and Prescription Drug Assistance Programs in their area.� In addition, there is a large library of helpful publications, information about local events and relevant contact numbers, including those for state Medicaid programs.� Several publications and some sections of the Web site are available in Spanish and Chinese.� Publications can be ordered directly on the site.� There is a screen reader version for people with visual impairments.

Some other HHS consumer health information sites of special interest include:

AGING -- Information about aging services and care is available from the Administration on Aging ( www.aoa.gov), including an Eldercare locator ( www.eldercare.gov) and an online guide for family caregivers of frail older persons entitled "Because We Care."� In addition, the National Institute on Aging (www.nih.gov/nia) provides information on specific diseases, treatments and research related to aging.

CANCER -- The National Cancer Institute Web site (cancer.gov/) provides up-to-date, accurate medical information on cancer. Click on "cancer information" for in-depth, lay-language information on types of cancer, treatment, prevention, risk factors, clinical trials, and more.� The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a site ( www.cdc.gov/cancer) with general facts, screening recommendations and/or prevention tips for colorectal cancer, breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer.�� The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a listing of mammography screening centers ( www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.html) that are certified as meeting baseline quality standards.� The list is searchable by area or zip code.

STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM ( www.insurekidsnow.gov) -- This site provides information on how to apply for the State Children�s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).� SCHIP was created as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to provide health insurance for children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for private health insurance.

CLINICAL TRIALS (www.clinicaltrials.gov) -- The NIH maintains this consumer‑friendly database with information on more than 5,000 federal and private medical studies involving patients and others at more than 50,000 locations nationwide.� The site provides patients and families easy access to information about the location of clinical trials, their design and purpose, criteria for participation, and, in many cases, further information about the disease and treatment under study.� It includes contacts to individuals responsible for recruiting patients for each study.

DIABETES -- The CDC�s diabetes site ( www.cdc.gov/diabetes/index.htm) contains information about the disease, including publications such as "How to Control Your Diabetes."� The guide, and other information, is also available in Spanish. The NIH also provides information on diabetes prevention, treatment and research ( www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes.htm).

FOOD SAFETY ( www.foodsafety.gov) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains this consumer site with information about how to avoid foodborne illness.� The site offers advice on how to keep specific foods from spoiling and includes information geared toward kids, teenagers and educators.�

KIDS� PAGES -- HHS For Kids ( www.hhs.gov/kids) is the starting point for a collection of Web sites throughout HHS and elsewhere in the federal government designed especially for children.� Also, healthfinder� kids ( www.healthfinder.gov/kids) provides a gateway to reliable health-related information for kids and encourages children to explore topics such as nutrition, safety, exercise, smoking and environmental health.� The site also has games, art contests and other useful information.

MEDICAL DEVICES ( www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/index.shtml) -- This site offers plain-language overviews of medical devices, from acupuncture needles to x-ray machines.� A special section covers recently approved devices.

MENTAL HEALTH -- Information about mental health and mental illness is available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its clearinghouse for mental health information ( www.samhsa.gov/).� Information on research is available from the National Institute of Mental Health ( www.nimh.nih.gov).

MINORITY HEALTH -- The HHS Office of Minority Health ( www.omhrc.gov) provides a broad collection of information on minority health issues and initiatives, including links for minority community organizations, consumers, and health professionals, and details of the HHS Minority HIV/AIDS initiative.� Information about African-American health issues is available at the "Closing the Gap" Web site ( www.healthgap.omhrc.gov). The Administration on Aging ( www.aoa.gov/minorityaccess/) provides information on minority elders.

ORGAN DONATION ( www.organdonor.gov) -- The Health Resources and Services Administration�s Organ and Tissue Donor Initiative provides information and resources on organ donation and transplantation issues.

PHYSICAL FITNESS ( www.fitness.gov) -- The President�s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports provides resources and information about physical activity, fitness, exercise, nutrition and health for all ages.�

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS -- The FDA provides helpful, plain-language information for a wide variety of recently approved prescription drugs ( www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo).� The information explains what the drug is used for, how it should be taken, who should not take it, what to avoid when taking it, and possible side effects.� Another FDA Web site (http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline) contains valuable information for consumers who buy prescription drugs or other medical products online.� The information is intended to help consumers avoid illegal sites that may sell unapproved products or sidestep patient protection procedures.� Medicare�s official Web site (www.medicare.gov) includes the Prescription Drug Assistance Programs database, which helps beneficiaries find information about programs that offer discounts or free medication to those in need, as well as information about drug benefits in Medicare health plans and supplemental Medigap plans in their area.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE -- Information about substance abuse treatment and prevention, including help locating a treatment facility, is available from SAMHSA and its clearinghouse for drug and alcohol information (www.samhsa.gov/).� Background information on research is available from the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( www.nida.nih.gov) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ( www.naaa.nih.gov

TOBACCO -- The CDC ( www.cdc.gov/tobacco) also provides tips for how to quit smoking, as well as videos and posters featuring celebrities discussing smoking risks.� The site also includes information about sports-related prevention campaigns, state initiatives and links to other prevention resources.

TRAVELER�S INFORMATION ( www.cdc.gov/travel) -- CDC provides international travelers with current information on disease outbreaks and health issues.� The site includes information on recommended vaccinations, and links to CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program for sanitation inspections on international cruise ships.

TREATMENT FINDINGS -- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ( www.ahrq.gov/consumer) provides information that helps consumers make informed health care decisions, including: what to do if diagnosed with a serious illness; how to choose preventive care services; how to quit smoking; and how to reduce the chances of being the victim of a medical error.� The site also offers research on what has been found to work best in treating a number of specific health conditions.� In addition, NIH issues consensus statements ( consensus.nih.gov/) that provide prevention and treatment recommendations on a wide variety of health topics.

WOMEN�S HEALTH -- The National Women�s Health Information Center ( www.4woman.gov) provides links to all federal agencies and publications on women's health, and to hundreds of government-screened private sector organizations.� The site also answers more than 150 Frequently Asked Questions on women�s health concerns, and features specialty sections on topics such as Women with Disabilities, Pregnancy, Women and Body Image, Violence and Men�s Health for Women.� The Girl Power Web site ( www.girlpower.gov/) is part of the national HHS-sponsored public education campaign to encourage and empower 9- to 14- year-old girls to make the most of their lives.�

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Key HHS Agency Web Sites

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- www.hhs.gov

Administration on Aging (AoA) -- www.aoa.gov

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) -- www.acf.gov

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) -- www.ahrq.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- www.cdc.gov

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) -- cms.hhs.gov/

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- www.fda.gov

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) -- www.hrsa.gov

Indian Health Service (IHS) -- www.ihs.gov

National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- www.nih.gov

Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) -- www.osophs.dhhs.gov/ophs

Office of Inspector General (OIG) -- www.oig.hhs.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) -- /www.samhsa.gov

Office of the Surgeon General -- www.surgeongeneral.gov

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.