Critical Path Network: News Brief: On-line health information aids with decisions
Recent studies indicate that the number of people in the United States who seek health care information on-line has doubled since 1998, and that those who search the web for such material say it has an impact on their decisions.
The number of people who go on-line for information about health topics has grown from 54 million in 1998 to 110 million this year, according to a survey by Rochester, NY-based Harris Interactive, a worldwide market research and consulting firm.
Sixty-eight percent of Americans searching the web for health care information say the information they found on-line had some impact on their decisions, according to a study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in Washington, DC.
That would appear to be good news for hospitals and health systems hoping to increase their visibility and accessibility through use of the Internet. The Pew study found that the typical "health seeker" accesses two to five health sites found through a search engine and spends at least 30 minutes on the search. One-third of the health seekers brings relevant information to their physician.
However, the study found that 73% of health seekers rejected information found on-line for various reasons, including that information appeared too commercial or because they couldn’t determine the source of the information. The report, Vital Decisions: How Internet Users Decide What Information To Trust When Their Loved Ones Are Sick, can be found at www.pewtrusts.com.
The Harris Interactive survey found that the most visited health sites in the United States are for medical journals, commercial health pages, and academic or research institutions.
Some respondents said they look for information only if their physician tells them to do so, but others say they judge the information on their own without consulting their physician.
For more information, go to the Harris Inter-active web site: www.harrisinteractive.com.
Don't miss an opportunity with conference replays
American Health Consultants is offering a replay of two of its most popular audio conferences — Avoiding Medication Errors: Saving Lives, Time, and Dollars; and Put It in Writing: Keys to Effective Documentation — at the subscriber-only rate of $149 each. Don't miss out on this special opportunity to educate your entire staff at your convenience for one low facility fee. Each hour-long replay includes handouts, additional resource materials, and free CE and CME for your entire staff.
The first replay, Avoiding Medication Errors: Saving Lives, Time, and Dollars, will run from 8:30 a.m. Aug. 13 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14. This essential audio conference provides practical strategies and advice on how you and your facility can avoid costly medication errors, which can result in the deaths of more than 7,000 patients annually. Learn how you can prevent these deadly errors and the devastating effect they can have on your facility. Leilani Kicklighter, RN, ARM, BS, MBA, DFASHRM, CPRHRM, a risk management specialist, and Stephen Trosty, JD, MHA, HRM, director of risk management for the Mutual Insurance Corp. of America, will present the conference. These two highly experienced risk managers give you valuable tips on how you can avoid the damage medication errors can cause to your patients and to your institution, as well as guide you through the controversial concept of self-reporting errors.
Put It in Writing: Keys to Effective Documentation, will be replayed from Aug. 20-21 starting at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21. The need for thorough and accurate documentation is crucial in health care. Inadequate documentation can result in claims denials, lawsuits, and even criminal investigations. Learn the keys to effective documentation and how it can benefit your facility. The conference is presented by Deborah Hale, CCS, president of Administrative Consulting Services, and Beverly Cunningham, RN, MS, director of case management at Medical City in Dallas.
To sign up for either replay, or for information on upcoming live audio conferences, call customer service at (800) 688-2421. You will be given a dial-in number and conference call access code. Conference material will be available on-line once you register.
When ordering, please refer to the following effort codes for each conference: Medication errors, 61991; Documentation, 62001.
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