Holyoke Consumer Health Library, Inc.

Hotlines

• Health Hotlines Toll-Free Numbers from the National Library of Medicine. Searchable by organization or keyword. Your search can be limited to hotlines that serve Spanish-speakers.
• Mass2-1-1: www.mass211.org or dial 2-1-1 for human service and public safety/disaster information. This is a state-wide Information and Referral service designed, in part, to reduce the number of non-emergency calls made to 9-1-1. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Council of Massachusetts United Ways (COMUW). January 2008: “Currently Mass2-1-1 operates its call center Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm with the ability to activate 24-7 during times of emergency in the Commonwealth.” Mass2-1-1 also provides routine referral information, e.g., how to find adult day care, or a food pantry. Use www.mass211help.org SEARCH page to enter your search, e.g., by topic, and zip code or city.
• NIH Toll-Free Information Lines (National Institutes of Health)

Directories

• Go Local Find local resources for health-related issues by state. Select an area from the map (e.g., Go Local Massachusetts) or by zipcode (e.g., 01040 for Holyoke) to search for health services and topics.
• Community Information Online (a service of C/W MARS, Central and Western Massachusetts Automated and Resourse Sharing Libraries)

Organizations

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  http://www.aafp.org/
  For families looking for information on all aspects of health care management. Including immunizations, Medicare, etc. This site features three free journals Family Practice Management, American Family Physician, and the Annals of Family Medicine.
• American Academy of Pediatrics
  http://www.aap.org/
  "The mission of the CISP is to improve the immunization delivery system for children across the nation." The site features information for families and clinician about vaccines, vaccine safety, and illnesses preventable by vaccination. Also includes information about the October 2004 flu vaccine shortage, a chart of state immunization requirements for school entry, and a suggested childhood immunization schedule. Includes videos. From the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• American Cancer Society
  http://www.cancer.org/
  This site highlights recent research, statistics, publications, and prevention. Includes survivor stories, and information about support for cancer patients and their families. Contains material available in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Searchable.
• American Diabetes Association
  http://www.diabetes.org/default.htm
  "Diabetes Info" provides lengthy full-text info on everything about & related to diabetes.  Selected full-text articles from Diabetes Forecast as well as 5 other professional journals published by the American Diabetes Association.  Links to categorized and reviewedInternet Resources.  Search engine allows you to search the whole site or just selected publications.  Links to Research & Legislative sites are also provided.
• The American Dietetic Association
  http://www.eatright.org/
  Nutrition Resources include full-text Nutrition Fact Sheets by category, excerpts from The Complete Food & Nutrition Guide and Dieting for Dummies, Bibliographies, Position papers, New USDA Food Guide Pyramid for young children.  Searchable from any page in the site.
• American Heart Association
  http://www.americanheart.org/
  Information on the heart, heart disease and stroke available in 1-3 page easy to read fact sheets or follow the links for richer coverage of each topic.  Some fact sheets have good graphical illustrations.  Science and Professional section includes AHA medical and scientific statements (including some guidelines).  Comprehensive listing of current statistics.  Links to the new AHA web site "Living with Heart Failure," a great resource for patients and caregivers
• American Medical Association
  http://www.ama-assn.org/
  Medical news headlines from Reuters & AMA.  Specific Conditions section contains full-text information in a variety of formats.  JAMA patient pages for 1998 & 1999 online.  Peer reviewed collections of resources for HIV/AIDS, Asthma, Migraine & Women's Health called Information Centers.  Section explaining common laboratory tests.  Doctor Finder and Hospital Finder.
• Center for Disease Control and Infection
  http://www.cdc.gov/
  Includes health and safety information, publications and products, as well as data and statistics on various health-related topics. Entries include: training materials, articles, links to organizations, etc. Also in Spanish.
• Planned Parenthood
  http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
  This web site will help you find resources on family planning counseling and birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, gynecological care, pap tests, breast exams, emergency contraception, HIV testing and counseling, medically accurate sexuality education, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, infertility screening and counseling, voluntary sterilization for women and men, reproductive medical exams for men, safer sex counseling, midlife services, abortions or abortion referrals, prenatal care, adoption referrals, primary care, and referrals for specialized care and more. Also in Spanish.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  http://www.fda.gov/
  Covers food safety & nutrition, human & animal drugs, biological products, cosmetics, medical devices, exposure to radiation, regulations regarding children & tobacco plus more.  Consumer Section includes an index of the FDA Consumer magazine with some links to full-text articles & section on newly approved drugs.  Patient Section contains a link to the Office of Special Health Issues for info on FDA activities related to HIV/AIDS, Cancer and other special health issues.