Medscape Reference

Medscape's clinical reference is the most authoritative and accessible point-of-care medical reference for physicians and healthcare professionals, available online and via all major mobile devices. All content is free.

The clinical information represents the expertise and practical knowledge of top physicians and pharmacists from leading academic medical centers in the United States and worldwide.

The topics provided are comprehensive and span more than 30 medical specialties.

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Diseases and Conditions

More than 6000 evidence-based and physician-reviewed disease and condition articles are organized to rapidly and comprehensively answer clinical questions and to provide in-depth information in support of diagnosis, treatment, and other clinical decision-making. Topics are richly illustrated with more than 40,000 clinical photos, videos, diagrams, and radiographic images.

Procedures

More than 1000 clinical procedure articles provide clear, step-by-step instructions and include instructional videos and images to allow clinicians to master the newest techniques or to improve their skills in procedures they have performed previously.

Anatomy

More than 100 anatomy articles feature clinical images and diagrams of the human body's major systems and organs. The articles assist in the understanding of the anatomy involved in treating specific conditions and performing procedures. They can also facilitate physician-patient discussions.

Drug Monographs

More than 7100 monographs are provided for prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as for corresponding brand-name drugs, herbals, and supplements. Drug images are also included.

Drug Interaction Checker

Our Drug Interaction Checker provides rapid access to tens of thousands of interactions between brand and generic drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. Check mild interactions to serious contraindications for up to 30 drugs, herbals, and supplements at a time.

Formulary Information

Access health plan drug formulary information when looking up a particular drug, and save time and effort for you and your patient. Choose from our complete list of over 1800 insurance plans across all 50 US states. Customize your Medscape account with the health plans you accept, so that the information you need is saved and ready every time you look up a drug on our site or in the Medscape app. Easily compare tier status for drugs in the same class when considering an alternative drug for your patient.

Medical Calculators

Medscape Reference features 129 medical calculators covering formulas, scales, and classifications. Plus, more than 600 drug monographs in our drug reference include integrated dosing calculators.

Image Collections

Hundreds of image-rich slideshow presentations visually engage and challenge readers while expanding their knowledge of both common and uncommon diseases, case presentations, and current controversies in medicine.

Resources for Physical Exercise

Regular physical activity helps improve your overall health and fitness, and reduces your risk for many chronic diseases.

Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. Start at a comfortable level. Once you get the hang of it, add a little more activity each time you exercise. Then try exercising more often.

READ FULL PAGE from The HealthCare Advocate

Free Patient Websites. Nonprofit Organization. | CaringBridge

CaringBridge provides free websites that connect people experiencing a significant health challenge to family and friends, making each health journey easier. CaringBridge is powered by generous donors.

CaringBridge websites offer a personal and private space to communicate and show support, saving time and emotional energy when health matters most. The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love, hope and compassion in the guestbook.

via Free Patient Websites. Nonprofit Organization. | CaringBridge.

Topics patients.about.com

• Diagnosis & Testing
• Treatment & Decision Making
• Medical Records & Codes
• Misdiagnosed/ Undiagnosed
• Doctors and Other Providers
• Research and Resources
• Medical Mistakes / Safety
• Patient / Health Advocacy
• Hospital Care
• Drugs, Supplements & Safety
• News / Issues / Debates
• Interviews, Books, Other Media
• Glossary of Med-Speak
• Medical Costs & Insurance

via Patient Empowerment at About.com - Teaching Patients to Take Charge for their Health & Medical Care.

FREE ONLINE MERCK HEALTH MANUALS - Trusted Medical and Scientific Information

Merck and The Merck Manuals

Merck is committed to bringing out the best in medicine and scientific research. As part of that effort, Merck provides all of The Merck Manuals as a service to the community. Click the Computer Icon then click on subjects to the left.

via THE MERCK MANUALS - Trusted Medical and Scientific Information.

FDA.GOV For Consumers - HOW TO FIND RECALLS

In addition to the below features, use the fda.gov site to search for recalls by typing in the search window top right "name recall" where name is the name of a drug or supplement.

Navigate the For Consumers Section

Consumer Updates

Timely and easy-to-read articles covering all FDA activities and regulated products

Protect Yourself

Buying medicines online, health fraud, warnings and enforcement, safety alerts, and reporting problems to FDA

Multi-Media Consumer Information

Videos, photo slide shows, and audio podcasts

Consumer Information by Audience

For seniors, women, patients and patient advocates, parents and caregivers, health educators, students, and kids.

Print Publications

Links to available print publications, information on ordering free copies, and printer-friendly Consumer Update PDFs

via FDA.GOV For Consumers - HOW TO FIND RECALLS.

Choosing Wisely | headache resources

American Headache Society

Numerous evidence-based guidelines agree that the risk of intracranial disease is not elevated in migraine. However, not all severe headaches are migraine. To avoid missing patients with more serious headaches, a migraine diagnosis should be made after a careful clinical history and an examination that documents the absence of any neurologic findings such as papilledema. Diagnostic criteria for migraine are contained in the International Classif...

American College of Radiology

Imaging headache patients absent specific risk factors for structural disease is not likely to change management or improve outcome. Those patients with a significant likelihood of structural disease requiring immediate attention are detected by clinical screens that have been validated in many settings. Many studies and clinical practice guidelines concur. Also, incidental findings lead to additional medical procedures and expense that do not i...

American Academy of Neurology

EEG has no advantage over clinical evaluation in diagnosing headache, does not improve outcomes and increases cost. Recurrent headache is the most common pain problem, affecting 15% to 20% of people. Occlusive carotid artery disease does not cause fainting but rather causes focal neurologic deficits such as unilateral weakness. Thus, carotid imaging will not identify the cause of the fainting and increases cost. Fainting is a frequent complain...

Patient-Friendly Resources

Imaging tests for headaches

Many people who experience severe headaches want a CT scan or MRI to see if they're caused by a brain tumor or other serious problem. But most of the time neither test is necessary. Here's why: The tests rarely help diagnose the problem. Most people who seek medical help for headaches have migraines or tension-type headaches. Those can indeed be painful, and migraines sometimes come with disturbing symptoms, like visual changes. But all that's u...

Treating migraine headaches

Migraine attacks can last for hours—or even days. They can cause intense pain, nausea, and vomiting. They can make you sensitive to light or noise, and they can affect your life and work. To treat migraines, you may get a prescription for an opioid (narcotic) or a barbiturate (sedative) called butalbital. These are pain medicines. But you should think twice about using these drugs. Here’s why: These drugs can make headaches worse. Using too mu...

via Choosing Wisely | Search Results | headache.

About Choosing Care Wisely | An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation

Choosing Wisely®

aims to promote conversations between physicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is:

Supported by evidence

Not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received

Free from harm

Truly necessary

In response to this challenge, national organizations representing medical specialists have been asked to “choose wisely” by identifying five tests or procedures commonly used in their field, whose necessity should be questioned and discussed. The resulting lists of “Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question” will spark discussion about the need—or lack thereof—for many frequently ordered tests or treatments.

This concept was originally conceived and piloted by the National Physicians Alliance, which, through an ABIM Foundation Putting the Charter into Practice grant, created a set of three lists of specific steps physicians in internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics could take in their practices to promote the more effective use of health care resources. These lists were first published in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Recognizing that patients need better information about what care they truly need to have these conversations with their physicians, Consumer Reports is developing patient-friendly materials and is working with consumer groups to disseminate them widely.

via About Choosing Care Wisely | An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation.