Internet Health Information - Where To Look
By Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw Opinion/Commentary
Fear and derision abound if you tell anyone you looked up Medical information on the Internet.
One thing is TRUE! There is a lot of Quackery on the Net.
For example, if a guy from Fort St. John B.C. says he discovered a cure for bunions using something he grew in his garden – head for the hills! It’s Quackery.
Two Medical Information Internet Sites of Interest – From Alberta and B.C.
Always consult your Health Care Provider. The Net is for additional information.
These two Provincial health information sites are easy to use and informative.
The sites are: MyHealth.Alberta.ca and HealthLink BC.
When looking at these sites I searched ‘Bursitis’. No special reason, just thought it was interesting.
You reach the Sites by entering the name in the search bar of your internet browser. For example, enter “MyHealth.Alberta.ca” or “HealthLinkBC” and hit search.
Both sites offered informative and interesting information for the average person.
The Saskatchewan Health Link site, has none of the features of the Alberta or B.C. sites – and that is fine.
Why duplicate when the Alberta and B.C. sites are free?
HealthLink BC is interesting.
In the ‘search bar’ I typed “Bursitis HealthLink BC” and it took me to information. For Alberta the search is a little different but not a problem.
Below is what MyHealth.Alberta.ca provides. I copied the information from their Web-site.
“Welcome to MyHealth.Alberta.ca, your trusted source of health information that was built by the Alberta Government and Alberta Health Services (AHS).
“MyHealth.Alberta.ca has easy-to-understand health information, including:
• health conditions
• healthy living
• medicines
• tests and treatments
“You’ll also find helpful tools and resources, including:
• educational videos
• symptom checker
• important phone numbers”
The Symptom Checker is kind of neat. I had a quick look at it.
Summary
I think Alberta and B.C. provide the best online information regarding medical questions.
With these reputable Provinces providing information there is no need for Saskatchewan to do the same. The Saskatchewan can save development money and use it for – say – another inland terminal.
Have a look at the sites. They are outstanding.
Remember: Always consult your Physician or Nurse Practitioner.
Writer Richard Dowson is a retired educator.
He is known for his frequenting local coffee shops and other places seniors gather.
In a previous life he wrote comedy for CHED in Edmonton.
His views may or may not reflect the views of this publication.